THREE under-18s players are to continue their tough introduction to open age rugby tonight as York City Knights reserves scramble around for a full quota of 17.

AN Other and SO Else were two names on the provisional squad list yesterday as the injury-hit club put together their second-string line-up for the rearranged trip to Halifax (8pm).

Wetherby youngster Ash Stephenson, Ash Haynes, who is one of the Wakefield College contingent, and Adam Dent, who joins big brother Ben in the team, were left out of last night’s provisional U18s side that also played at the Shay so they could feature tonight.

No youngster will double up with two games in two days, however, while first-team player-coach Chris Thorman was also reluctant to field front-line players – even though there is no Championship game this weekend – in case they picked up any more injuries. That said, hooker Kris Brining was in the line-up, despite his first-team exploits against Leigh on Sunday, and Jack Stearman also plays after his brief appearance as a sub against the Centurions.

AN Other or SO Else could be replaced by other first-teamers today, otherwise the Knights, without a reserves win this year, could travel short-handed.

Thorman said: “I don’t want to play Kris but because of the U18s playing (last night) we don’t have any other hookers. I didn’t have any other fit players on Sunday and I don’t want to risk somebody else getting injured.”

Dave Sutton was the latest to join the injury list after being stretchered off unconscious on Sunday following his call-up from the reserves.

Knights reserves (provisional): from B Dent, Stephenson, Whitfield, Mann, Poutney, Law, A Haynes, Hanigan, Stearman, Brining, Howard, Bridges, Fraser, Thorpe, A Dent, AN Other, SO Else.