RUGBY coaches have been helping the next generation of players get to grips with tag rugby at more than 40 York primary schools.

Three coaches have been leading sessions at 41 of the city's 50 schools giving more than 1,500 youngsters the chance to learn the game, with more than 400 expected to go on to test their skills in a tournament.

Co-ordinator Tony Gargan, who is one of the coaches along with Mike Kilmartin and Neil Gulliver, said the response had been good.

He added: "At one school recently, we did an after-school session and more than 40 Year 5 and 6 children attended, and most of the schools that run after-school clubs are reporting that more than 20 children are regularly attending."

York City Knights have weighed in to support the scheme and have provided four rugby balls, two sets of tag belts and a set of cones for each school taking part.

The teams have been split into ten groups with the winner in each going through to the finals morning on May 8.

Wednesday, April 21

Group 1: Dringhouses, Bishopthorpe, Osbaldwick. Group 2: Hempland, Yearsley Grove, Stockton-on-Forest.

Thursday, April 22

Group 1: St Aelred's, St Wilfred's, St George's, Our Lady's, English Martyrs. Group 2: Dunnington, Robert Wilkinson, St Oswald's, Haxby Road.

Monday, April 26

Group 1: Acomb, Copmanthorpe, Poppleton Road, Woodthorpe. Group 2: Clifton Without 'A', Park Grove, Carr, Huntington.

Tuesday, April 27

Group 1: Clifton Green, Alne, New Earswick, Wigginton. Group 2: Poppleton Ousebank, Pocklington, Westfield, Clifton Without 'B'.

Thursday, April 29

Group 1: St Mary's, St Barnabas, Long Marston, Wheldrake, Burton Green, Rufforth. Group 2: Ralph Buttermead, Elvington, Headlands, Tang Hall.

All group games will be played at Oaklands Sports Centre from 4pm to 5pm.

The project has proved such a success that an all-girls' tag tournament has been pencilled in for Thursday, May 20, with six schools hoping to attend.

FOOTBALL

U12 Cup round 2: Oaklands 1, Canon Lee 2

Under 14 Cup round 2: Huntington 2, Barlby 3; Oaklands 2, Tadcaster 0.

All second round and semi-final matches in the U12, U13, U14 and U15 cup competitions should be played as soon as possible and results forwarded to Paul Ryan or Ian Parnaby at Oaklands School on 01904 782727 or 01904 788395 (fax) or e-mail ydsfa@hotmail.com

Primary League 'A': Huntington 0, Clifton Without 0; Hempland 5 (Bilton 2, Yeoman 3), Poppleton Road 0.

Primary League 'C': St Wilfird's 3, Fishergate 1; Acomb 5 (Robinson 2, Shimin 2, Callow), Haxby Road 0; English Martyrs 4, New Earswick 2; Acomb 0, New Earswick 0.

Primary League 'D': Park Grove 1, Derwent 0; Skelton 2, Park Grove 1; Dunnington 7, Skelton 0.

Primary League 'E': St Mary's 2, Appleton Roebuck 3; Osbaldwick 4, Rufforth 1.

Primary League 'F': Ralph Butterfield 'A' 4, Woodthorpe 'A' 1; Clifton Green 'A' 0, Westfield 'A' 3.

Primary League 'G': Bishopthorpe 'A' 0, St Oswald's 'A' 0; St Aelred's 'A' 3, Knavesmire 'A' 1; St Aelred's 'A' 2, Knavesmire 'A' 1; Lakeside 'A' 1 (Smith), Knavesmire 'A' 0.

Primary League 'H': Ralph Butterfield 'B' 1, Woodthorpe 'B' 1; Clifton Green 'B' 1, Westfield 'B' 2.

Primary League 'I': Bishopthorpe 'B' 2 (Wilson, Kaye), St Oswald's 'B' 0; St Aelred's 'B' 1, Knavesmire 'B' 2; St Aelred's 'B' 1, Knavesmire 'B' 0; Lakeside 'B' 3, Knavesmire 'B' 0.

Primary Cup quarter-final: Ralph Butterfield 2, New Earswick 1 (Bellwood) aet.

2nd round: Poppleton Ouse Bank 1, St Mary's 2 (Marriott, Dhesi); Poppleton Road 3, Our Lady 1.

Coca-Cola Northern Schools' Girls' Cup

Hungerhill 1, St John Fisher, Harrogate 5 (Fiona Saler 2(1 pen), Carey Heugett 3)

Updated: 09:45 Wednesday, March 24, 2004