New Earswick is to host rugby league's county championship match between Yorkshire and holders Cumbria later this month.

Heworth's Dan Briggs is the only York representative currently in the squad, although there is a strong local flavour off the field.

The team will be coached by Acorn's Alfie Hill and Paul Higgins while another Acorn man, Steve 'Jonty' Thompson, is the physiotherapist.

Local stalwart Spen Allison is chairman of the Yorkshire County Amateur Rugby League.

He is expecting a tough game but believes Yorkshire can turn the tables after last year's defeat by the Cumbrians.

Yorkshire will be boosted by the return of West Hull forwards Brian Kennedy and Scott Fletcher, described by Allison as "the two best second rowers in the country", who were both missing last time.

Kennedy has been playing rugby in Australia while Fletcher took a year's rest from the game.

Cumbria were crowned champions last year after beating an under-strength Yorkshire and Lancashire in the tri-county competition. Since then Yorkshire, fielding their strongest team, have inflicted a heavy defeat on Cumbria in the Emerging Nations trials.

They will be hoping for a repeat of that performance when the teams clash at New Earswick on Sunday, August 26 (kick-off 2.30pm). Admission is £2.

The opening match of the championship is between Cumbria and Lancashire on August 19, while Yorkshire will take on Roses rivals Lancashire at Blackbrook in the final game on September 2.

Updated: 12:03 Friday, August 10, 2001