York City Boys Under-11s performed with great credit in the ESFA seven-a-side finals at Chester-le-Street reaching the semi-finals before going out to a strong Warrington team.

York were handed a tough group, being in with the likes of Newcastle, Liverpool, Wakefield and Morecambe.

First up was Newcastle who took an early advantage only for York to reply immediately via a Joe Fox penalty. Gary Chapman then fired York ahead for a lead they held until the final kick of the game when Newcastle snatched an equaliser.

Wakefield were next up and York produced their best performance to win 1-0 through Tom Corner's goal, a lead they never looked likely to surrender.

Against Liverpool, York absorbed lots of pressure and presented few chances to the team made up of five academy players. However, Liverpool took the spoils with what proved again to be the last action in the game.

A win was needed in the final fixture against Morecambe and York delivered the goods courtesy of a Gary Chapman strike which put them into the final four.

The effort and commitment shown in the group stages was again evident in the semi-final, but York came undone in the opening five minutes when Warrington surged 3-0 up. York came back strongly in the second half and deserved the Joe Fox penalty but Warrington made the game save with their fourth to reach the final.

Ryan Allison excelled at the back for York, while captain Tom Corner continued to show what an exciting prospect he is.

York entertain East Riding at York Sixth Form College on Saturday, March 22, kick off 10.30am. All players meet 9.45am. Bring £2 subs.

The Under 11s squad is: William Pepper, Murray McClusker (both St Olave's), Scott Goldsmith (Bishopthorpe), Mike Lawrenson (Appleton Roebuck), Mike Duckworth, Joe Fox (both CliftonWithout), Billy Gregory, Ryan Allison (both Robert Wilkinson), Joel Dixon (Copmanthorpe), Marco Shepherd (Headlands), Tom Khan (St George's), Joe Dale (English Martyrs), Jamie Hopcutt (Westfield), Alex Fowler (Lakeside), Tom Chelin (Knavesmire), Tom Corner (St Aelred's), Gary Chapman (Barlby Bridge), Ryan Qualter (Huntington).

York Schools Under-13s gained revenge on Barnsley with a 2-1 victory at York RI's New Lane ground.

Barnsley, who knocked York out of the Yorkshire Cup last month, went ahead but the York youngsters equalised when Danny Penrose cut in from the left and fired in from outside the area.

York rattled the Barnsley post and had a chip cleared off the line before Penrose shot across the area and Jack Webster hammered in the winner with two minutes to go.

Barlby High Under-13s reached the semi-finals of the York Schools Cup with a 4-0 victory over Huntington School.

Huntington, fresh from their county cup exploits, were unable to contain a rampant Barlby. Goals from Kevin Kozicki (2), Luke Zacharenko and Graham Stuart were enough to send Barlby through to a semi-final meeting against Tadcaster or Oaklands.

Barlby have been unbeaten in the Selby area for two years.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Schools rugby league teams were going head to head this afternoon as five Year Ten nine-a-side teams clashed at Heworth.

The mini-tournament of full contact rugby nines saw Huntington, Millthorpe, Barlby, Burnholme and Archbishop Holgate's Schools compete in a round-robin format.

Year Eight teams from Barlby and Burnholme will also play each other in a separate competition.

The tournaments, from 4pm to 5.30pm, have been organised by Neil Gulliver, who has recently started working for City of York Council with a remit of developing rugby league in the city.

TENNIS

The directory for the York & District State Schools' Tennis League is as follows (School - Teacher, Home Night):

Girls: Joseph Rowntree Sibyl Glover (Thursday); Millthorpe - Lesley Ford (Monday); All Saints - Val French (Thursday); Tadcaster - Judy Marriott (Thursday); Sherburn - Helen Seabourne (Tuesday); Huntington - Lesley Mather (Tuesday); Manor - Denise Crane (Thursday); Fulford - Jackie Snow (Monday).

Boys: Joseph Rowntree - Sibyl Glover (Tuesday); Millthorpe - Ben Langford (Monday/ Wednesday); All Saints - Dennis Nicholson (Tuesday); Tadcaster - Kevin Browne (Tuesday); Sherburn - Wayne Isherwood (Tuesday); Huntington - Bruce Shann (Tuesday). Manor - Dave Crane (Wednesday); Fulford - Andy Lunn (Wednesday).

Unless otherwise arranged, schools should assume that the matches are to be played at the given venue, on the home night during the allocated week. The first fixtures are to be played in the week commencing May 5, and they are:

Girls: Sherburn v Joseph Rowntree, Tadcaster v Huntington, Manor v All Saints, Fulford v Millthorpe.

Boys: Joseph Rowntree v Sherburn, Huntington v Tadcaster, All Saints v Manor, Millthorpe v Fulford.

It is desirable that girls and boys play only in their respective age group. In the event of a school being short of players in a particular age group these games are to be conceded even if individual arrangements are made to make the evening worthwhile.

Updated: 10:08 Wednesday, March 19, 2003