A SUSPECTED thief more than met his match when he tried to ply his trade at a city sports ground.

When he tried to make his escape he was brought to a halt - by a full squad of rugby players.

The York Railway Institute's under-16s rugby union side was warming up for a match at their ground in New Lane, Acomb, when the man saw his chance.

The secretary of the Institute's youth section, Sean Heslop, saw the man, aged in his early 20s, acting suspiciously in the changing rooms and confronted him.

The man came up with a story about looking for a local football team, so Mr Heslop decided to march him to the relevant part of the multi-sports ground.

"I was walking him round to the football side so he could confirm his identity, when he decided to do a runner," said Mr Heslop yesterday.

"I shouted to the lads for help and they reacted brilliantly."

Bringing their tactics into play, they carried out a flanking manoeuvre, cutting off their quarry in front and behind.

As the man was taken away by the police, the team made their way back to the pitch for the real business of the day - which did not go quite as well. They went down 34-7 to local rivals Malton and Norton.

A police spokesman said a 23-year-old man was apprehended at the ground and will appear before magistrates charged with burglary.