ANDREW Springgay is on course for a call-up to the England Under 21s squad for their Six Nations Championship campaign.

The former St Peter's School pupil starred in the U21s 'A' team for their annual winter fixture against the Wales U21s 'A' squad at Pontypridd on Wednesday night which ended 21-21.

The clash was used as a chance to assess a number of the up-and-coming players who are on the fringe of the full U21s team ahead of the spring championship fixtures - with new U21s chief Nigel Melville watching the game.

Springgay, who partnered Bristol's Richard Hunt in the second row, is currently plying his trade at Newcastle Falcons.

England dominated the first half, only for Wales to come back strongly in the second to reverse a 21-6 half-time deficit and level the game.

Coached by Ged Glynn and Paul Westgate, England scored there points throw tries from Ed Thrower and Mark Irish.

London Irish winger Thrower added a conversion and three penalties.

However, Melville, the former England Otley scrum-half who also coaches London Wasps, could only look on as Wales full-back Dafydd Lewis chipped away at the lead.

Lewis, who played at Loftus Road for Wasps, slotted over three penalties and a conversion, while Gareth Swales crossed for two tries.

POCKLINGTON have a busy festive programme with their annual Boxing Day encounter with Old Pocklingtonians (kick-off 1pm) and a derby clash against Driffield on December 29 (ko 2.15pm).

The Boxing Day clash with Old Pocklingtonians - the former pupils of Pocklington School - has grown in popularity to become a major festive reunion and sees two games played.

The respective first teams will play for the Bottomley Trophy, which has been donated by the family of George Bottomley.

He was a Pocklington School old boy and one of the original founders of the Percy Road club.

The OP will be hoping to field two strong line-ups for the fixture - although they are never quite sure what their sides will be until the day itself, despite the tireless work of Malcolm Milne.

Anyone who wishes to play should go to the club at noon.

Pock' game against Driffield on Saturday has been hastily arranged by team manager Tim Clappison and his cousin Stu Cooper, who is the director of rugby at Driffield.

With training interrupted by the Christmas break, both clubs feel it is vital to try to keep the momentum going.

Malton and Norton have added a New Zealander to their ranks following the acquisition of back row James McKay.

The 23-year-old student is in England to spend some time travelling and has been convinced to join the Yorkshire Three outfit while he is in the country.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: "It came through a friend who went to Dubai with the QSG (the Quality Street Gang).

"He said to our skipper Chris Creber out there he had a friend coming across who was going to be in the area."

McKay, who grew up playing for the Johnsonville club back in New Zealand, made his debut in his new club's clash against Barnsley.

Meanwhile, Malton are all set for their annual fixture against Scarborough next Saturday.

The match will be played at the Gannock and kicks-off at 2.15pm.

SINCE rugby has turned professional, players have been able live the life of rock 'n' roll stars - but for Pocklington's Gary Denton this is all old hat.

While he may only turn out on the wing for the Merovingians, Denton's alter-ego is as the lead singer in the popular Seventies revival band The Cosmic Spiders.

Such is the demand for the Spiders - in his father Ray also performs - that they regularly appear all over the country, seriously limiting Denton's appearances on the rugby field.

However, he will have a chance to combine work and pleasure when the Spiders appear at the Pocklington RUFC Christmas Bash.

So while he may leave the rugby field in a muddy Pock' kit, he is likely to emerge from the dressing room looking more like Roy Wood than Keith Wood.

YORK RI's conquerors in the Powergen RFU Junior Cup, Skipton, have been drawn against Cumbrian side Millom in the last 16 of the competition.

RI disappointingly bowed out of the cup with a 12-3 defeat, just seven days after they had seen off their fellow Yorkshire Two rivals 15-10 in a league encounter.

York will not have long to wait if they are to hit back against Skipton as the two sides are set to meet in the opening round of the Yorkshire Shield at New Lane on January 19.

The Shield was won by Pocklington as recently as the 1999/2000 season, while Selby, York and even Goole Old Boys have their names engraved in history.

Malton and Norton, who have been drawn Yorkshire One outfit North Ribblesdale in the first round of the Shield, have previously won the Yorkshire Silver Trophy for the lower league teams.

Updated: 10:57 Saturday, December 22, 2001