FORMER Selby coach Steve Cruise has parted company with Hull Ionians, less than nine months after guiding them into the National Leagues.

Cruise, a formidable front-rower in his time at Sandhill Lane, had helped mastermind Ionians climb into National Three North.

However, Cruise, who still helps assist with the coaching of the junior section at Selby, has opted to call time on his brief spell at Brantingham Park due to family commitments.

Peter Hewitt, the Hull Ionians secretary, told the Evening Press: "Steve left us amicably. He has a young family and his own business and wants to spend more time with them.

"We are disappointed as Steve took us up into the National League, but the travelling that has come with this has meant he has had to spend more time away from his family.

"With a young family, we have got to respect his decision. Although this is a professional era, we are all semi-volunteers and have to dedicate a lot of time.

"We hope Steve doesn't disappear from rugby as he is a good coach. Hopefully he will find a club closer to home."

POCKLINGTON duo Andy Wilson and Tim Slater have both suffered bad cases of 'amnesia' in the past week - but for different reasons.

While hooker Wilson couldn't remember where he was or what had happened after receiving a bang on the head in his side's defeat by Beverley, Slater suffered a more serious memory problem during his tour recognisance mission to southern France.

Sources at the Percy Road club have claimed Slater's forgetfulness first struck as he left his tour folder in Perpignan. He then left his jacket in Maraussan, before sitting down for a meal in Beziers only to get up and leave that as well.

However, despite the mishaps, which coincided with a Pernod drinking competition, the club's plans for their May trip to the region are well in hand.

The club are set to play games against Maraussan and Barcelona in a triangular tournament, while, depending on numbers, the veterans will play a 'competitive' version of touch and pass.

The tour is open to all-comers with more details available from the club, alternatively ring Tim Clappison on (01430) 860325.

SELBY are preparing themselves for 'probably the best tour in the world' with a little help from one of their former players.

The Sandhill Laners are eyeing up a jaunt across to Montreal in 2004, and giving them a helping hand is Mike Magee, an ex-player from the 1970s who has gone on to become the head of Carlsberg in North America.

Magee had played a leading role in the club's 1998 trip to St Louis when he was based in the American city during his time overseeing the franchise with Budweiser.

Magee has since moved on to Montreal to work on a franchise with Labatts, so has extended the invite to the Selby squad.

Although the Selby tourists are in charge of completing all the groundwork in arranging flights and accommodation, the club's 'Man in Havana' - or this case Montreal - Magee acts as a liaison between them and the host clubs as well as offering his own tour around the places to see.

THE Sleeman brothers stole the show for York's junior section as the siblings notched hat-tricks for their respective age groups.

Thomas and Evan Sleeman, who are from Alne, were the stars as they racked up 30 points between them against Malton and Norton.

Evan started off the try blitz as he raced in for his trio for the Under-9s in the 30-10 win over their Malton counterparts. Hugh Nicholson, Tom Edwards and Edward Clarkson scored the Clifton Parkers' other points.

Buoyed by his brother's achievement, Thomas tormented Malton U11s with a hat-trick of his own in an emphatic 68-7 win. Ben Hepworth, Thomas Brown, Charlie Nicholson (3), Toby Spark and Henry Lee also scored five-pointers, with Brown and Spark sharing the extras.

Meanwhile, the club's U7s, who boast a squad of 26, have a perfect record so far, winning nine out of nine games this season, while also taking the Morley Festival Trophy.

Anyone wanting to try out rugby are welcome to join the fun at York from 10am on Sunday mornings.

THE best 100 players at Under-16s in Yorkshire will be on show at York RI's ground tomorrow when the five district teams - north, east, west, south and central - take on each other.

The first matches kick-off at 11am, followed by further matches at 12.15pm and a Yorkshire Probables versus Possibles clash at 1.30pm.

With each squad consisting of 25 players, spectators heading down to New Lane will be treated to the sight of the cream of the county's youth.

GOOD luck to former union star Carl Stannard, who is hoping to make his professional rugby league debut tomorrow.

The former Pocklington flanker was taken on trialist forms at York Wasps last season by then coach Leo Epifania.

But following the demise of the club, Stannard decided to join York Acorn ARL in a bid to learn the 13-a-side code at a grassroots level.

Now, the rebirth of professional rugby league in the city through York City Knights has given Stannard the chance to get back into the sport, with the second row signed on by the club for this season.

Stannard was in the 21-strong squad to face Arriva Trains Northern National League Cup rivals Hull KR tomorrow in an historic first game.

WITHOUT wanting to jinx Malton and Norton, who today took on Bradford Salem in the last 16 of the Powergen Junior Vase, but should they have won through to the national quarter-finals, the draw for their next opponents would be made on Monday at 12 noon.

Updated: 12:09 Saturday, January 18, 2003