Moneybags Leeds, who were expected to beat Manchester last night and then face Newbury on Sunday to wrap up the title before heading back to the Guinness Premiership, played Morrell and three other youngsters connected with the Brods in their Yorkshire Cup side on Tuesday evening against Hull RFC.

The young Leeds side defeated Hull whose player-director of rugby, Tevita Vaikona, was up against former Brods Under-17s centre Christian Georgiou, now at the Leeds Academy.

Besides the former Bradford Bulls and Hull FC centre or wing Vaikona, Hull had ex-Hull FC centre Maea David at fly-half.

Morrell had 25 minutes game time and was reported to have made two huge hits and thrown well in the lineouts. Two other Brods' Under-17s players, utility player Andy Finn and full-back Jack Moon, came off the replacements bench with 10 minutes to go.

"I am pleased for Ben, in fact we all are," said Turner. "He has had a great season with us and deserves to get on in a game he is totally devoted to."

There is no first team game this weekend ahead of the Yorkshire One championship and promotion decider with York at Woodhead on Saturday, April 18 (3.00). However, while player-coach Nick O'Connor and his family enjoy Florida and captain Ollie Akroyd and his family take in Tenerife, quite a few of the squad in a Brods Select XV are heading with other club members on a coach tomorrow morning for Sidmouth in Devon for a friendly game on Saturday.

"Not ideal preparations one may say for a week on Saturday, but it will be back to training on Tuesday and Thursday next week to ensure we are fit and well prepared for the last league match when we want to nail it," said Turner.

"At Skipton against tough opposition and up against the wind in the first half we played really well and it was a real team effort, although I must say Luke Scrimshaw and Morrell have been outstanding for us this time."

The club's second team, members of the Yorkshire Premier League for second teams, are at home on Saturday to Beverley (3.00) who are bottom of the table.

The Brods side, under the coaching stewardship of Freddie Holt and Martin Smith, have had a tremendous season and currently lie in second place.

(More sports news in the Brighouse Echo 9/4/2009)