County chasing glory at HQ

12:19pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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It may not be August 1 but it is certainly Yorkshire Day' at Twickenham this weekend.

Four of their teams are playing in Saturday finals, with two of them in opposition.

Yorkshire lead the way with their National Under-20 County Championship decider against Gloucestershire (11.00).

Then Castleford square up against Doncaster Phoenix in an all-Yorkshire EDF Energy Junior Vase final (1.00), which is followed by Wheatley Hills' EDF Energy Senior Vase decider against overwhelming favourites Harpbury College from Gloucestershire (3.00).

Cleckheaton may not be involved themselves but will have more than a passing interest in two of the matches.

Former players Johnny West and skipper Ryan Burrows are in the Yorkshire under-20 team, while two other former Moorenders - skipper Chris Willett and player-coach Steve Johnson - are in the Castleford team.

Holders Yorkshire, who also include Luke Gray and Joel Gill from Wharfedale and Sam Bottomley of Leeds, have had to make one enforced change, Dominic Parsons (Sheffield Tigers) replacing foot-injury victim Dan Chamberlain (Leeds) in the second row.

Former Coldstream Guard Willett, whose dad missed out on a Wembley rugby league appearance with Castleford, leads out his union side.

The 37-year-old No 8 said: "Ron was hurt in a car crash and I know how disappointed he was."

Willett senior will be in the crowd - and no wonder as Chris is their leading try-scorer this season with 27, while Chris' brother Steve is at fly half.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire's seniors continue their County Championship campaign against Warwickshire at Nuneaton.

In the frame for the White Rose are Otley's Dan Hyde, Ben Steele and John Buchanan. Wharfedale's Andy Baggett is in line for a fly half berth.

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