Clive in league of his own

The man who masterminded this country's greatest sporting day since 1966 is an old boy of Easingwold School.

Retired Easingwold teacher Gerry Kershaw, the man who first taught Woodward the skills of rugby union, today spoke of his pride after seeing Woodward's team beat Australia 20-17 in a gripping final in Sydney.

"He was an absolute natural. No matter what sport he would have decided to take up, he would have done well," said Kershaw. "I am delighted for him."

Woodward and his sister, Linda, attended the school in the mid-1960s, when their father was stationed at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

Kershaw, who retired this year, is better known as a former rugby league referee and was the video ref at the final Ashes Test against Australia at Huddersfield on Saturday night.

Indeed, Woodward himself was tempted to join the 13-a-side code, once having talks with Warrington, revealed Kershaw.

"When Clive came back to Easingwold to open our cricket pavilion, I asked him if he had thought about having a go at rugby league, and he said 'yes'," said Kershaw.

In the days when links between the two codes were frowned upon, Woodward, an England centre, was actually at Warrington's Wilderspool ground on the day Kershaw was in charge of a game.

Kershaw normally was invited in to the boardroom after the game, but on this occasion he was not allowed in. Woodward had spotted his former teacher's name in the programme.

Wires' officials wanted to keep Woodward's presence under wraps, so Kershaw was refused entry.

Nothing came of Warrington's overtures and Woodward stuck firmly by union, reaching the pinnacle of his career on Saturday with that thrilling World Cup final win over the Aussies.

North Yorkshire has other connections with the England team - forward Lawrence Dallaglio is a former pupil of Ampleforth College, while goal-kicking superstar Jonny Wilkinson's father, Phil, attended Pocklington School.

Updated: 11:12 Monday, November 24, 2003