Double delight

With the Pocklington 1st XV away at Sheffield Tigers on Saturday, Cambridge Univer-sity Women's XV took centre stage with their annual fixture against Leeds Metropoli-tan.

And 24 hours later, the ladies were at it again - showing the boys exactly how to play the game with a rematch.

The Cambridge girls are sponsored by Pocklington vice-president Geoffrey Bloom through his investment company TBO and the fixture is now firmly established as one of the highlights of the social calendar - with the team arriving in wild west outfits.

Saturday's fixture was used as a curtain-raiser to the afternoon clash between Pocklington Panthers and Sheffield Tigers.

After a shaky start, the Cambridge Blues came from behind to take a hard-fought 20-10 victory.

The night's antics were obviously a factor for the girls on Sunday as they fell behind to Met again.

However, in true blue fighting spirit, Cambridge clawed their way back to win 32-22.

The Cambridge side were captained by Jes Hudson, who made the headline for exploits in a boxing match against Sandhurst when she became the first women to box for the University.

And Hudson showed her combative side and will to win with an all-action display in the front-row.

THE saying 'what goes around, comes around' could not have been more apt for Selby on Saturday as they lost to a last-minute penalty against Pontefract.

Eighteen-year-old winger Nick Cooper had only been on the pitch for ten minutes when he stepped up to slot over a 35-yard penalty with the last kick of the match.

The successful kick was enough to complete a remarkable comeback for Pontefract as they overturned a 15-3 half-time deficit to win 18-15.

However, little more than 12 months ago it was Selby who won in the dying moments after a similar situation.

Having trailed 14-5, Selby staged a great fight back and with seconds left Carl Paterson - who is now at Hull Ionians - slotted over a penalty from five metres inside his own half.

Team manager Richard Besley said: "I suppose they owed us that after last year.

"They just snuck it, but you would have thought they had won the cup final the way they celebrated at the final whistle."

MARTIN Prothero made a big impression as he turned out for the Welsh Exiles Under 20s in their Celtic clash with the Irish Exiles U20s.

Prothero, who missed Selby's clash with Pontefract as a result of the game, put in an eye-catching display in the centres for the Dragons, setting up the only try of the match.

The game was for the Welsh and Irish nationals based in England to highlight some of the up-and-coming stars of the game.

Selby's Richard Besley said: "It is great experience for Martin and hopefully a sign of things to come.

"He is very quick and is a ferocious tackler."

YORK RI will be running a coach to Skipton for their Tetley's Bitter Vase clash next Saturday.

York, who met Skipton in league action today at New Lane, will be taking a strong first team squad for the match, while their Second XV are without a game so will be making the trip as well to lend their vocal support.

Anyone interested in travelling to the game on the supporters coach should contact Nigel Lowery on (01904) 791797.

THE much-anticipated clash between Ireland's top two scrum-halves failed to materialise on Saturday.

Tadcaster's Guy Easterby had been due to line-up against his international rival Peter Stringer for the Celtic Cup quarter-final tie between Llanelli and Munster.

However, Easterby was denied the chance off putting one over Stringer, who currently occupies the Emerald Isle's No9 shirt, when the Munster man pulled out through injury.

And in a second blow to Easterby, he and his Llanelli team-mates - including his brother, Simon - went to lose 13-6.

ST PETER'S School, York, will be watching the latest round of results in the Daily Mail Schools Rugby Under 15s Cup with great interest next week.

Unbeaten St Peter's edged through into the last 16 following their narrow 17-15 victory over Stonyhurst College.

The boys are now awaiting the outcome of Tuesday's clash between St Ambrose College, Altrincham and Ripley St Thomas, Lancaster to see who they will face for a place in the quarter-finals.

The school has previously reached the semi-final of the competition, and although they are just two wins away from emulating this feat, they will have to wait until January for the sixth round.

Director of sport at the school Mike Johnston said: "We are hopeful that we can go a long way in the competition."

HARROGATE have signed former England Under 18s hooker Andy Nunns from Rotherham.

Nunns, 20, spent last season with Leicester, playing for both Under 21s and seconds before moving to Clifton Lane where he has been restricted largely to sitting on the bench.

He has thrown his lot in with the Claro Roaders in the hope of winning a first team place.

FORMER York RU winger Leigh Deakin made a less than auspicious start on his return to the 13-a-side code.

Deakin, who has top-flight experience with Hull and Leeds, spent the winter at Clifton Park in a bid to regain his fitness after a knee injury.

However, the 28-year-old never really got into his first game back as Wasps were stung by a 42-4 defeat against the Whitehaven Warriors.

Deakin's fellow rugby union convert, Carl Stannard, the former Pock' flanker who is currently on a two-month trial, has yet to appear in the Wasps line-up.

Updated: 10:26 Saturday, December 08, 2001