A RUGBY league superkid from York is in line to smash a British try-scoring record set by Wigan Warriors star Simon Haughton.

Pocket rocket Ben Johnson, who plays for York Acorn juniors, will join the likes of Haughton and Great Britain legend Joe Lydon on the list of players to have set a new best should he continue his stunning form tomorrow.

If the nine-year-old half-back scores seven tries in the final tournament of the season, he will break the record for the most touchdowns scored in a single season of club rugby league at all age levels.

Johnson, who also often tops the tackle count, has notched 115 tries in 32 games this season, at an average of just over seven tries every two games. And as tomorrow's tournament will see Acorn Under-9s play a minimum of four group games, plus more if they qualify for the knockout stages, he has a great chance to get his name into the record books.

As reported in the Evening Press, Johnson, who joined Acorn aged four, actually equalled Haughton's record of 121 tries last season while playing at Under-8s level.

Cruelly, he had what would have been a record-breaking touchdown in the final match of that campaign ruled out - but he now has another opportunity to make his mark.

Coach Phil Wilkinson said: "There are some famous people who have set this record and Ben has a great chance of breaking it."

He added: "Some people could think we are a one-man side but Ben would be the first to say it's a team game. He has the rest of the team around him and working for each other."

Tomorrow's tournament is at Castleford, where York Acorn Under-9s will be taking on some of the best teams in the region at their age level.

Acorn will be involved in another event for a good cause tomorrow when their veteran Past Masters XIII take on cross-city rivals Heworth Has Beens in an over-35s encounter.

The match, at Heworth, is being held to raise funds for Heworth players Rob Goodall, who sustained major back injuries and a broken leg in a fall while holidaying in Spain, and 14-year-old Gavin Wilson, who broke his neck in a mountain bike accident.

The match (ko 2.30pm) will be preceded by an under-15s clash (ko 12.30pm).

Updated: 09:42 Saturday, August 18, 2001