Teenage rugby sensation Rob Lee has made Acorn history by becoming the first player from the York amateurs to grace Super League.

But the dream could rapidly turn into a nightmare for the 18-year-old who has been thrown into action in the middle of a Hull Sharks crisis.

Lee made his Sharks debut in last Wednesday's defeat at Gateshead Thunder and followed that up with a full 80 minutes on the wing in yesterday's 30-2 hammering at home to Castleford Tigers.

Rock bottom Hull were booed off the Boulevard pitch yesterday after a lacklustre display and Australian coach Peter Walsh was today expected to make an announcement about his future.

It is a difficult time for Lee to make the step up to Super League after a starring role in Hull's second string. But though admitting he was disappointed with the side's performance, Lee said: "We just need a bit of luck. I'm confident we can stay up."

Lee has recently been given a new contract to keep him at Hull where he has been for the last two years after joining the Academy side. This season he has been superb in the Alliance and had been topping the try-scoring charts with 12 until being overtaken this week following his elevation to the first team.

After overcoming his nerves when he was first told of his inclusion in the side to face Gateshead, Lee has settled in well though his chances to impress have been limited in a poor Hull side.

His brother Andy, also formerly at Acorn, is making an impression in Hull's Academy side.

It has not been such a good week for another ex-Acorn starlet, Jon Liddell.

The youngster dislocated his right shoulder in Leeds Academy's home game with Halifax on Friday and could be out for up to 12 weeks.

The trio are the latest examples of Acorn's excellent youth policy and on Friday night the Under-18s, winners of the Yorkshire and Humberside Youth third division and top four play-offs, held their presentation night along with the open age side.

Former Great Britain star Garry Schofield turned up at Thanet Road to present some of the awards and gave a rousing speech about his hopes for Acorn's future.

Departing coach Stewart Smith expressed his confidence in the club to improve on their poor Conference showing this season while York Wasps players including Fata Sini, Lea Tichener, Peter Edwards and ex-Acorn star Darren Callaghan were also present.

But the night belonged to captain Lee Frank who lifted both the major honours -

Coaches' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.

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