A leading rugby union club have joined the hunt for former York Wasps goalkicking supremo Jamie Benn.

The club, believed to be Premiership Two side Rotherham, have been in talks with the full-back during the last week.

Benn impressed during his recent trial period with Super League side Castleford Tigers but may be tempted to turn his back on rugby league.

Tigers assistant coach Graham Steadman said: "It would be a very good move for him if it comes off."

Steadman was full of praise for Benn and another ex-Wasp, Richard Goddard, who both played in the Tigers two friendlies against Wakefield and Leeds.

Neither has yet been offered a contract but Steadman hinted that Goddard, currently playing rugby union with Wakefield, may have done enough to earn another shot at Super League.

"I have been more than impressed with him in the two games. He even played with flu against Leeds which was testimony to his performance," said Steadman.

The three-week break from rugby union has given most injuries time to heal, but York faced the prospect of kicking their heels for another week.

Their North East One match at Darlington has been called off because Darlington are in NPI Intermediate Cup fifth round action at Bridgnorth, who play in Midlands West Two.

York's third team's game against Darlington has also been put off because their opponents are involved in a county cup match.

As a result York went into the fixture pool and appeared to have the choice of two opponents for a friendly encounter - Midlands One side Mansfield, or Littleborough, who play in North Lanachire Two - a standard reckoned to be the equivalent of Yorkshire Four.

Club officials were still trying to arrange a game at the time of going to press.

The Darlington v York NE1 game will now be played on Saturday, January 22. York were originally scheduled to face Hull in a club game on that date while Darlington have scrapped their friendly against Hartlepool Rovers to accommodate the York match.

Victory for Darlington, who are second in the NE1 table, in Shropshire, would see them through to the last 16.

Darlington's neighbours, Darlington Mowden Park, may have ground advantage when they tackle mighty Harlequins in the fifth round of the Tetley Bitter Cup on the weekend of January 29-30.

The Premiership giants reckon their share of the gate would earn them more more from playing at Park's compact Yiewsley Drive ground than the Stoop.

The top London side only pulled in a crowd of around 2,000 in Sunday's fourth round win against thurrock - and about half of those were supporting the visitors.

Harrogate will be going all out to eradicate memories of the heaviest 37-6 defeat of the season inflicted on them at Roehampton when Rosslyn Park visit Claro Road tomorrow.

Harrogate have abandoned their experiment of playing skipper Rhys Morgan in the three-quarter line with Craig Reed at fly half. Matt Duncombe returns at stand-off.

Pocklington kept up the momentum that saw them end the first half of the season at the top of Thwaites' North East Division Two by blowing the Christmas cob-webs away with a 26-12 win over The Unicorns last Sunday.

'Pock' should retain their grip on the league when they entertain struggling Old Brodleians.

Rob Jackson switches inside to take injured Rich Stephenson's place. Sam Allen is on the wing and Steve Wilcock is promoted from the bench to prop forward as cover for Rob Smith, who turned an ankle against Unicorns.

Selby are unchanged for Cleckheaton following their 17-13 Boxing Day defeat by West Leeds while Scarborough entertain Thornensians in Yorkshire One without Bill Freeman although Andy Holloway makes a welcome return.

Ripon field an unchanged side in their bid to move away from the NE3 relegation zone, although their visitors, Yarnbury, hold a two points grip on the top of the table.

York RI are at home to Sheffield Oaks in Yorkshire Two.

Wetherby, struggling to find a winning formula in the backs, bring Rob Gilpin and Nigel Adair in at centre for their trip to Airebronians while Nestl Rowntree, who stole a march on all the other clubs in the area by fitting in two games over the Christmas break, entertain Garforth hoping to improve on the 30-0 defeat sustained earlier in the season at the hands of tomorrow's visitors.

James Baldwin returns to the back row after being involved with work commitments since the end of November and Matt Forman hopes to have recovered from a knee injury.

During the holidays, Rowntrees went down 63-29 at Wetherby but beat a Leos side 38-3 last Thursday.

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