WHARFEDALE'S star centre Andrew Hodgson broke his leg in Yorkshire's county cup match against Northumberland - but reports in other newspapers of his demise are greatly exaggerated.

Far from facing the possibility of being out for the whole of next season, Hodgson stands a good chance of wearing his usual centre's jersey for the first match in August.

The injury has been diagnosed as a break of the fibula and Hodgson, speaking from his home in Skipton this week, said the pot would be off in six weeks. He hopes to be in full training soon after and could be ready for the first game of Wharfedale's new campaign.

Hodgson suffered a bad fracture of his leg while playing for Bradford Bulls in rugby league's Super League but he said that this time the injury was not so bad.

It is also on the other leg, the left, and he joked: "It means I'll be able to walk straight as it will equal things out!"

Hodgson has had a small plate put in but has now resigned himself to missing the club tour to Washington, USA, even as a spectator.

The injury happened early in the match, which Yorkshire won 42-25.

"I don't really know what happened," said Hodgson. "All I remember is that the big second row came through and I went to tackle him at the same time as our fullback came across. Whether the second row fell on me, or the fullback came across me on the hard ground, I don't know."

While Wharfedale fans will be breathing a sigh of relief that the Jewson National Player of the Year will be back at the start of next season, or soon after, Yorkshire will miss him as they prepare for the county championship semi-final against Cornwall on Saturday.

Yorkshire are captained by John Lawn and Wharfedale players David Lister, Hedley Verity and Graham Smith are also in the side.

Meanwhile London Welsh supporters (not to mention Wharfedale's) are still waiting to hear where their club's future lies.

The club's website contains criticism from fans about being kept in the dark but the overall flavour of the comments is generally in favour of a move to the Welsh League.

Wharfedale, without the services of their county players, performed superbly at the Lancashire 7's Tournament at Blackburn on Saturday.

One of five seeds in the competition, the Greens defeated both the holders and the tournament favourites on their way to a deserved appearance in the final. They were ultimately well beaten by a much fresher Fylde side that had had a markedly easier run-in.

Having topped their group in relative comfort, they overcame trophy holders Anti Assassins in the quarter-final. This encounter was generally held to be the match of the tournament, with Wharfedale finishing a nail-biting 19-17 to the good. In the semi-final the Greens faced the much-fancied London Welsh team, and another tough game, winning 19-12.

The final was just 'one game too far' for a tired squad, and Fylde deservedly took the trophy with a 29-5 victory.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.