TWO more highly-rated York youngsters are eyeing Super League futures after signing professional contracts with Hull Kingston Rovers.

Elliot Bulmer and Jack Stewart, both 16, and both products of Heworth ARLC, have penned two-and-a-halfyear part-time under-18s academy deals with the Robins, which involves training three days a week in addition to match-days.

The pair, having just left Canon Lee School School and Joseph Rowntree School respectively, will also attend York College, although terms of their Rovers contracts mean they will not be allowed to play for the college’s rugby league development team.

The Press has recently reported that York duo Flannan Naismith and Jack Anderson have recently signed for an academy at another Super League club, Wakefield, while four lads – Jordan Myers, Jack Byrnes, Joe Deighton and Jordan Potter – have signed similar deals with Championship high-riders Featherstone.

Many of these youngsters had previously been in York City Knights’ scholarship, and would now be eligible for their under-18s team, but various rule changes to junior systems by the Rugby Football League have affected the scholarship scheme in the last couple of years and seen a number of youngsters cherry- picked by richer clubs.

Bulmer is one such player.

A second-row, he was a Knights scholar at under- 14s level but then joined Hull FC at U15s. He moved to cross-city rivals Rovers a year ago.

Stewart, usually a winger or full-back, joined Rovers’ youth system at U15s level.

They both came through the junior ranks at Heworth although last season Bulmer switched to York Acorn and Stewart to New Earswick All Blacks.

• York City Knights Under- 18s fell to a 33-26 defeat to Hunslet U18s.

The Knights tries were scored by Gareth Smith, Joel Johnson, Matty Brewer, Ash Winstanley and Luke Tomlinson.

Coach Jack Stearman said: “It was a bad performance compared to our last couple of efforts. It’s a shame really because Hunslet were there for the taking.”