FORMER Pocklington RUFC player-coach Gary Pearce has found the most unlikeliest of allies after claims he has poached players.

Pearce, who now coaches at Hull, has been accused of enticing three players away from Bridlington, with the club now considering making an official complaint to the Yorkshire RFU.

But Phil Gilbank, the first team manager of Pocklington, believes Brid' have no grounds for their complaints, despite seeing five of his own squad follow Pearce to the east coast.

"It is a bit rich to hear this from Brid' as a few years ago they were pulling players in from all over," he said.

"I can't see where Brid' are coming from - players aren't contracted and can move between clubs."

Sam Anderson, Ben Connolly, James Ward, Jason Nicholson and Steve Hogarth have all moved from Pocklington to Hull since Pearce made his switch, but Gilbank remains philosophical about the whole situation.

"Our position here is 'that's life' - you see it all the time when a coach leaves a club and takes a load of players with him," he said.

"Gary was with us for nine years and we had a lot of good times. We won three titles, the Yorkshire Shield and the Rugby World 'Team of the Year', but then Gary decided to move on.

"Some of our players went with him. We would have been happy for them to stay, but they left with our best wishes. We've got to be philosophical about it."

Ex-Welsh star Pearce has laughed off any suggestion he had poached players.

"I've heard the rumours on the grapevine, but am I the only coach to sign players in the summer?" he said.

"Have Driffield not recruited players from Beverley? Has John Bentley at Cleckheaton not signed a number of players? Have Hull Ionians not brought in new players?

"Three or so years ago, Bridlington were inviting everyone to join them.

"I think this is a case of clubs having to get to grips with the professional era. Players move on more often than ever before.

"I've suffered as well, I lost a young prop to Hull Ionians, but with no contractual agreements, players can move when they want."

Pearce said of the three players to move from Bridlington, Gareth Jackson was the only person he contacted, while Rob Porter and John Morrison moved of their own accord.

However, Brid' are yet to make any complaint to the Yorkshire RFU about the incident.

Mark Roberts, county secretary for the Yorkshire RFU, confirmed: "No approach has been made to me or my offices about this. We are waiting for Bridlington contact us, but until that time we cannot comment."

Updated: 10:48 Saturday, October 06, 2001