Double-whammy

Pocklington had believed they would be playing the Hull Ionians' 2nd XV in a friendly, but their experimental squad found themselves lining up against two members of the Tongan side which lost to Wales a week earlier.

Tevita Fifita and Viliami Vaki had been part of the Tongan side which had lost 51-7 to the Dragons of Wales.

The first Pock' knew about the events to come was when the Ionians first team management stepped off the bus, led by coach Steve Cruise, formerly of Selby, and followed by a number of players with county honours.

The double-whammy came when Bradford Bulls Super League star Tevita Vaikona arrived with his two beefy cousins - Fifita and Vaki - squeezed in the back of his car.

The pair were looking for an English club to play for, for the rest of the season following the end of Tonga's tour of Scotland and Wales.

But on Saturday the duo found things slightly more to their liking as they helped Ionians to a 73-7 victory over a youthful Pock' team - sharing seven tries.

Fifita helped himself to five tries, while Vaki weighed in with a useful brace as the juggernauts smashed the Pock' resistance.

And to rub salt into the Pock' wounds former Selby fly-half and York Wasps trialist Carl Paterson grabbed two tries and slotted over a series of sensational touchline conversions to finish with a 28-point haul.

But far from being dispirited by the defeat the young Pock' lads where more than happy to retell the stories of them spending the afternoon tackling international players.

POCKLINGTON'S try against Hull Ionians received an extra special cheer from the Percy Road faithful - and it was not one of irony.

Bustling prop George Mangalo was on hand to finish a slick move between the posts, giving Pock' their first points of the clash.

The try - if not the result - was the perfect ending to Mangalo's three-month spell at Pock', with the front row star returning to Scotland to play for Premiership outfit Kirkcaldy.

YORK RI have been handed the hardest possible tie in the fifth round of the Tetley's Bitter Cup - an away trip to Skipton.

Having seen off sides from the lower leagues in the previous round, RI will now have to negotiate their way past their Yorkshire Two rivals if they are to match last season's achievements by Malton and Norton.

In an added twist, the two sides are set to meet at RI's ground in the league next Saturday - just seven days before the cup tie.

York RI's seconds are also in the hunt for silverware, with the club currently trying to arrange a date for their North Yorkshire Cup clash away at Northallerton.

The club are looking at playing the tie next Sunday, kick-off 2.15pm.

HARROGATE Ladies will take on a North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue XV on Sunday to help raise money for the North Yorkshire Air Ambulance Fund.

The firefighters will be slowed down by wearing full uniform, except helmets, while there will be plenty on for children, with Frances the Firefly and the unit's fire engines both present throughout the entire morning and afternoon (subject to calls). Fire crews will be on hand to show them round.

The game will be held at Claro Road and will kick-off at 2.30pm.

For more information, contact the club on (01423) 566966.

YORK'S recent upsurge in form has been tempered by the news that all action flanker Jim Hawcutt has been ruled out for a year.

He has been playing with a knee injury in recent weeks but has now been advised to take a lengthy break from the game.

ST PETER'S School Under 15s have edged closer to a place at Twickenham following their epic 17-15 victory over Stonyhurst College in the Daily Mail Schools Rugby Cup.

Both teams entered the game unbeaten, but it was St Peter's who emerged with their record just about intact.

A dominant opening 15-minute spell saw right-wing James Pang cross for the opening try, which full-back Charlie Parry converted.

St Peter's continued to press, but they failed to added to their score and it was Stonyhurst who entered the break on a high after scoring a try in the last seconds.

A converted try and a long range penalty followed soon after, leaving St Peter's trailing 15-7 with 20 minutes left.

A well-executed try from fly-half Ben Hough pegged the lead back to three points and with two minutes remaining centre Mark Jagger profited from the hard-work of the pack to score.

St Peter's are now unbeaten in 13 games this season.

THE Rugby Football Union has issued new guidelines to eradicate the practice of 'squeeze ball' from the game.

Squeeze ball is a retention tactic which has crept into the game and sees players making contact with an opponent, going to ground with their body virtually parallel with the touchline and the ball at their chest. When on the ground, the ball is pushed back through the legs, so the possession stays with the attacking side.

However, the move is now being used by younger players, causing a number of safety concerns.

With this in mind, the International Rugby Board have issued a new note on the interpretation on Law 15.6 (d) (The Tackled Player), stating the ball must be made available immediately, with the practice of squeeze ball in breach of this.

Unions have also been advised to ban the practice and the coaching of this tactic at any age level from under 18.

Updated: 10:40 Saturday, December 01, 2001