YORK schoolgirl Abbi Matthews is in India competing in the Junior Commonwealth Fencing Championships.

Abbi, a member of the Great Britain fencing squad, warmed up for her latest trip with a competition in Dijon, France, where she finished as the highest ranked member of the GB team in 18th place.

The 16-year-old is studying for her GCSEs at the Mount School and hopes to make the Olympic team for London 2012.

Meanwhile, York Under-11 schoolboy footballers slipped out of the Yorkshire Cup in the first round against East Cleveland.

A string of flaws exposed York in the first half as East Cleveland stormed 4-1 ahead, York's only tonic coming from a corner by skipper Tom Allen which flew straight into the net.

The second half saw a little more urgency with a Josh Stilgoe strike and an own goal from an Ash Taylor cross reducing the deficit to 4-3. But York could not find the equaliser.

The U11s travel to Spen Valley in a league match on Saturday looking to put the defeat behind them.

U11s from: James Robinson, Ash Taylor, Josh Stilgoe, James Hall, Josh Poulter, Liam Jackson, Sean Evans, Patrick Evans, Elliot Frodsham, Jack Ryder, Harry McMillan, Lewis Rhodes, Tom Allen (capt), Dan Wilson, Jack Littlechild, Paul Winterburn. Meet McDonalds on the A64 at 9am.

U12s captain Jacob McCormick engineered a quality 4-2 win over Bradford with an impressive second half showing.

York trailed 2-1 at half-time despite Jules Gabbiadini setting up Jamie Wilstrop for an opener. Then McCormick sparked a comeback with a mazy run, again releasing Wilstrop to level.

McCormick and Jacob Gore combined to tee up man of the match Jack Wickham before the skipper hit home a penalty to extend the side's unbeaten league and cup run.

York face Spen Valley on Saturday (ko 10.30am).

U12s from: Catling, Simpson, Quantock, Platt, Dale, Binns, Gabbiadini, Flanagan, McCormick, Duckworth, Kite, Wickham, Gore, Wilstrop, Hudson. Meet York Sixth Form College at 9.30am with £3 subs.

York U14s are in cup quarter-final action at Bradford on Saturday.

U14s from: A Griffiths, B Bulmer, M Byram, A Scorefield, R O'Reilly, G Riley, R Butcher, N Thompson, D Cates, M Shepherd, J Dale, L Bond, A McMahon, D Montgomery. Players to meet at A64 McDonalds at 8.45am. Contact Brendan on 01904 632868 to confirm availability.

Andy Lee hit a goal in each half to add the sheen to an impressive 4-0 defeat of Wakefield for York U13s.

York took the lead when Pete Tasker drove home from the edge of the area. James Edmond then coolly added the second, lobbing the ball over the Wakefield goalkeeper and Lee's double completed the win in which Adam Thornton and Will Pepper excelled.

The U13s travel to Spen Valley on Saturday. Meet at McDonalds on A64 at 9am.

U13s from: Adam Thornton, Adam Ward, Oliver Bird, Will Bailey, George Bissett, Will Pepper, Callum Maloney, Josh Waite, Tom Richardson, James Edmond, Pete Tasker, Steven Jarman, Jon Kilmartin and Andy Lee. Meet at the A64 McDonalds at 9am. Tom Young, Dominic Conricode, George Middleton and Matty Dale are rested. Call Chris Dale on 01904 339759 or 07940 174254 to confirm availability.

Updated: 09:58 Wednesday, January 25, 2006