THE 44th John Smith's Pock Sevens tomorrow kick off an Easter rugby festival at Pocklington Rugby Union Club.

Six hours of rugby tomorrow will be followed by a full programme of games on Easter Saturday, then on Sunday the club's juniors have their annual Junior Charity Sevens, in aid of Martin House Children's Hospice.

Tomorrow's action gets underway with a junior rugby curtain-raiser between Pocklington U14s and Beverley, kicking off at 10.45am.

This precedes the Pock Sevens, which start at noon.

Pock Sevens is the biggest rugby union event in the area.

Around 2,000 spectators are expected to pack the club's Percy Road ground to watch 24 senior sides from all over Yorkshire and across the country.

The high-speed rugby will continue non-stop throughout the afternoon, with the final scheduled for 5.40pm.

On Saturday, Pocklington firstt XV are due to visit Hull Ionians, but Pocklington Pilgrims and the Merovingians both have home games against Marist and Hull Ionians respectively, kick off 3pm.

Sunday morning sees the juniors take their turn for their Easter Sunday Charity Sevens tournament at U13, U14 and U15 levels, sponsored by Pocklington company, Agriyork Ltd.

The junior competitions will be keenly contested by youngsters from the Bridlington, Driffield, Malton, Pocklington and York clubs,with interest from further afield from Scunthorpe and Cheshire side Sedgeley Park.

The first junior sevens encounter kicks off at 10am and play is scheduled to continue through to mid-afternoon.

Updated: 12:03 Thursday, March 28, 2002