Ambitious Lee McTigue has set his sights on a full Great Britain cap after a starring role in the BARLA Under-23s narrow victory over the Combined Services.

But the New Earswick All Blacks second rower admitted he would be prepared to sacrifice the top honour in the amateur game if the right professional club came along.

McTigue, 21, had to be content with a place on the substitutes bench for Saturday night's showdown at York's Huntington Stadium.

But he was superb when he was unleashed at half-time, producing some storming runs to help turn a 10-0 deficit into a 17-16 win.

Though playing in the unfamiliar role of prop, he was still delighted with his own performance.

"I thought I played really well. I thought I made a lot of ground in attack and set us up for two tries," enthused McTigue, who was also on the bench for the Under-23s two years ago.

"I was really disappointed I didn't start but then you can only show them what you can do. They only had two props in the squad and they wanted three. I knew I'd get the third spot because I was the biggest of the back rowers."

Now he is looking towards that full GB cap, and believes his display at York could have aided his claim.

He said: "I don't think I've done myself any harm. Now I've got to concentrate on getting in the Yorkshire to boost my chances. I'm 21 now so I've got two years left of Under-23s but I hope I'm good enough and capable of getting in the full squad."

McTigue has flirted with the professional game on several occasions in the past, playing with Castleford and Widnes Academy, training with Hull Sharks and spending a few weeks on trial with Northern Ford Premiership side Dewsbury Rams in the summer.

He revealed the NFP Grand Finalists did offer him a contract but he opted to turn it down.

"It was too far to travel and I couldn't get off work. If they didn't get in Super League they were looking at reducing contracts next season and if I was getting a reduced contract I thought I might as well stay local," he explained.

McTigue claimed York Wasps had watched him several times but never made a formal approach, and although he wanted to turn professional he had no immediate plans.

"I want to play somewhere I can enjoy playing my rugby, that's more important.," he added.

There was no place in the Services team for his All Blacks team-mate Rob Lowson but another player with York links did make it into the side.

Army sergeant Dave Clarke was born in the city and is a former pupil of Pocklington School.

Now in the Royal Signals in Didcot, Oxfordshire, he played the full 80 minutes at loose forward and looked very solid.

Reflecting on his first full game for the team, Clarke, who played in the inaugural Services game between the Army and the RAF in 1994, said: "My attacking play wasn't as good as I'd have liked but my defence was solid. They're a good team, well drilled, but we held our own.

"We played against some of the top players in the country and were only beaten by one point - it's a great achievement. We're a bit disappointed though, we felt we could have beaten them if we'd played out our sets of six."

Heartbreak for Acorn

Defeat was the order of the day for all York's three National Conference League teams.

The best performance came form York Acorn who were robbed of a win at Milford Marlins by an injury-time try.

Substitute Paul Smith slotted over a field goal with two minutes remaining to give Acorn a deserved 11-8 lead but Paul Dunkerley's last gasp effort rescued the game for Milford.

Acorn's Tim Wilcock scored an equalising try in the first half to make the score 4-4 at the interval.

Smith then gave them the lead with a try which he also converted, before Milford hit back with a try.

New Earswick All Blacks were hammered 38-8 by Hull Dockers in a bitterly disappointing display at White Rose Avenue.

They trailed just 10-8 at one stage, scrum half Adie Robinson scoring a try in his first match of the season and Dave Carling adding two goals.

But they were let down by poor tackling and by half-time Dockers had extended their lead to 18-8. There was nothing for the All Blacks to cheer about after the break and their misery was complete in the final minute when Gary Isles was sent off.

All Blacks man of the match was Richard Harrison.

Heworth didn't fare much better at Featherstone Lions where they were beaten 42-10 in the first division. Despite taking an early lead through a Gavin Grant try, they were the only points they managed in the first half as the home side, led by two-try player-coach Simon Tuffs, stormed into a 20-4 lead.

The Lions continued to dominate in the second half and Rich Darling's try, goaled by Carl Potter, wasn't enough to get Heworth back into the game.

It was the fifth win on the bounce for the Lions who stay on course for promotion while Heworth slip into the lower reaches.

York Groves picked up their first points of the season in Yorkshire League division five as they defeated Walton 27-19 at Burdyke.

After a drop goal had given the visitors the lead, Nigel Ridsdale's well worked try, converted by Alan Mitchell, put the Terriers in front.

Walton edged back into the lead with a converted try but again Groves hit back. This time Mitchell finished off a fine cross field passing move which he also converted.

Hooker Danny Battle increased their lead in the second half with a try which Mitchell again converted. And although Walton capitalised on some slack defending to reply, John Rushworth finished off Groves' scoring with a try in the corner. Andy Bartlett, Kev Sturdy and Ridsdale were the Terriers' best.

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