PROP forward Tom Buckenham will stay at York City Knights for the time being after Doncaster Dragons agreed to continue his loan spell.

It was thought the LHF National League One club were set to recall the 20-year-old but Dragons coach St John Ellis met Knights counterpart Mick Cook yesterday and the pair decided to go on with the current week-to-week arrangement.

Buckenham, who joined the Knights at the beginning of the season initially on a month's loan, has played in eight games, five as substitute, for the Knights, proving increasingly impressive.

Cook confirmed: "They can recall him at any time after the initial month's loan but we're going to keep him for a little bit longer. He's done well for us."

It is thought Buckenham may return to Belle Vue once fellow prop David Bates returns from his drugs ban. Bates' first game back available will be the Challenge Cup tie at St Helens on Friday, May 6.

Updated: 10:45 Thursday, April 07, 2005