YORK RUFC will be playing catch-up when the new season starts on Saturday.

The Clifton Parkers, newly promoted to North 2 East, were scheduled to start the campaign at Hull.

But Hull beat West Park (St Helens) 28-21 in the preliminary round of the Powergen Cup last weekend and will now be in first round action on Saturday instead of hosting York.

Andy Gair, York's coach, was hoping to arrange a club match against Cleckheaton instead. The West Yorkshire side find themselves in a similar position to York as their opening day opponents, Hull Ionians beat Westoe 49-24 to progress in the Powergen Cup.

York are hoping to confirm the Cleckheaton game later this week. Whoever their opponents, York will enter the fray in good heart after a weekend double over West Leeds of Yorkshire Two.

Gair was able to have a good look at several players as his mixed York side beat West Leeds' second team 46-12 then another York combination defeated West Leeds' senior side.

Pocklington warmed up for the new season with an easy 54-3 workout against touring London side Old Olavians at Percy Road.

All Pock's 25-man squad got a run-out at some stage and their strongest line-up ran away with it in the second half after leading 17-3 at the break.

The Kent Two side went ahead with a penalty but Pock pulled away in the second period after a fairly even first half.

Teenage full-back Charlies Allen, just back from a week with the England Under-17 Development squad, and wing forward Trevor Smith each scored two tries. Other touchdowns came from second-row Simon Lewis, winger Kris Thelman and centre Gareth Allan. Kevin Bowling converted seven of the eight tries, all with drop kicks.

Malton and Norton had a useful run-out in their 54-5 win at Hessle in which the match was played in quarters involving different teams.

Selby also played their game at Knottingley in quarters and finished as 30-12 winners.

Despite falling behind to a Will Stansfield try, converted by Paul Rockett, Selby went on to dominate the first quarter and moved ahead with tries by prop John Kaye, full-back David Batty and centre Shaun Austerfield, the former York RL player.

New Zealand stand-off Hamish Burns, making his debut, kicked the rest of the points as Selby led 20-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter produced no points but Selby moved further ahead in the third with winger Tony Godfrey scoring wide out.

Walford reduced the arrears in the final quarter but Selby had the last word with Batty scoring his second try.

Selby coach Diccon Edwards said: "I'm really pleased with the way the game went and especially with the way the Selby team moved the ball".

Sale sent their Under-21 Development squad to Harrogate and put up a good display before being finally overpowered 48-15 by the Claro Road outfit.

'Gate only held a 15-3 advantage at half-time against the enterprising hosts, who included Mark Simpson-Daniel, younger brother of England player Jamie, as a replacement scrum-half.

Updated: 12:29 Tuesday, September 02, 2003