HEWORTH prop Steve Barnard could have played himself into the reckoning for a Great Britain place after answering an SOS from Yorkshire.

When Queens prop Matt Gomersal was forced to withdraw from the county squad for Saturday's match with the RAF, Barnard was contacted to stand in as his replacement.

And he made such an impression that he may have earned a place in the Yorkshire team for the Great Britain trials on August 20.

Though still not officially in the squad, Yorkshire County chairman Spen Allison will be speaking to the committee this week about his inclusion.

Barnard was the only York player to make an impression in the 58-6 win over the RAF at New Earswick.

Lee Frank withdrew from the squad and his Acorn colleague Gareth Lloyd had a quiet game in the centres.

Two former New Earswick players, Graham Cass and Rob Lowson, were named in the RAF squad but did not make it into the final 17.

Elland's Junaid Malik took the Yorkshire man of the match award with centre Scott Simons the pick of the RAF team.

The final trial matches, featuring the amateur squads from Yorkshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Great Britain and ireland Students, Combined Services and Emerging Great Britain and Ireland, will take place at Blackbrook on August 20.

From those games a 30-man BARLA Great Britain and Ireland Lions squad will be selected to prepare for the Emerging Nations World Championship in November.

PICTURE: POWERPLAY: York Acorn's Gareth Lloyd drives the ball in for Yorkshire against the RAF team during their clash at New Earswick

Picture: Mike Tipping