Ex-Ram reunion

The band of former Rams will be led by Knights head coach Richard Agar, who was arguably the main man for Dewsbury when they won the old Northern Ford Premiership in 2000 having lost in the Grand Final the previous year.

Apart from starring all season, Agar scored the late drop goal that gave the Rams their crown in a 13-12 Grand Final win over Leigh Centurions.

He has returned to Ram Stadium a few times since leaving Dewsbury in 2001 but said: "It's my first time back as a Knight so there's probably a bit of interest there.

"We could have up to seven ex-Dewsbury players in the team and what we know is all these guys will be wanting to do well against their old club."

Also in the Dewsbury team in those two Grand Finals were Knights' current player-assistant coach, Nathan Graham, and loose-forward Damian Ball, who scored a try in the 1999 showpiece which ended in a 12-11 defeat to Hunslet.

Winger Alex Godfrey also played in that game and he too helped them win the 2000 title, although he didn't play in that year's final.

Godfrey was the only former Dewsbury player to play for the Knights at Ram Stadium last season, scoring a try in a memorable 28-24 Arriva Trains Cup victory in April.

He is hoping for a similar outcome tomorrow. "There are a lot of us going back there," he said. "It will mean a lot to me and the rest of the lads to get the win.

"We finished top of the table twice while I was there and we enjoyed two Grand Finals and one title win, and it will be nice to go back and win again. It's always nice to go back to where you used to play, especially if you get the victory."

Two other ex-Rams in the Knights squad in April last year were Mark Cain and Scott Rhodes, but both missed that game against their old club. Cain was injured - and is a doubt again tomorrow - while Rhodes was not allowed to play in the fixture due to a clause in the deal that brought him to Huntington Stadium from Dewsbury just two weeks earlier.

Since then, five more former Rams have joined the Knights. Danny Brough made the switch from Dewsbury in May, while Jim Elston did likewise in the closed season, to join up with fellow Knights newboys Agar, Graham and Ball.

ON the other side of the coin, there could be two former Knights in the Dewsbury line-up tomorrow.

Half-back Adam Thaler joined the Rams as part of the deal that brought Danny Brough to York, while hooker Darren Robinson signed for Dewsbury before the start of this season.

Robinson made nine appearances for the Knights before leaving last April under a cloud, with Dewsbury later becoming his fourth club in one calendar year, the others being Rochdale, York and Sheffield.

Former York Wasps second-row Ian Kirke may also be in the Dewsbury line-up, perhaps at centre.

HOW about this for a bit of useless trivia.

Craig Fisher, who played for Gateshead against York last week, has had his five minutes of fame on national television.

The hooker appeared on the Weakest Link and even got to the final before missing out on the cash. It seems facing Ann Robinson was easier than going up against Jim Elston.

IT'S Rich Hayes' 34th birthday today, so if anyone sees him, wish him all the best.

It's probably the first time in God knows how long that the recently retired prop idol has been able to go out and celebrate a birthday on a weekend.

Els' bells as Jim jumps to joint-top

JIM Elston was the big winner in the Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire Player of the Year competition this week.

Indeed, he has shot up to joint-top of the table just as quickly as he shot over the Gateshead try-line last week.

The hat-trick hero gleaned three player-of-the-year points for his man-of-the-match performance at the Thunderdome and was also, by unanimous decision, the winner of the extra point as voted for by Knights fans.

The four-point haul put him level with Craig Forsyth at the top, the latter having achieved a similar booty the week before.

Forsyth's fellow prop, Dan Briggs, also had a storming game at Gateshead in what was his first run-out of the season. He ran well, tackled well and handled well to give a performance the great Rich Hayes, the man he replaced, would have been proud of. And Briggs also scored a deserved try - something Hayes rarely did!

He therefore picks up two points, with scrum-half Danny Brough collecting the remainder, just pipping Darren Callaghan.

Standings: Elston 4pts, Forsyth 4, Ball 3, Jackson 3, Langley 3, Briggs 2, Brough 2, Rhodes 1, J Smith 1.

Congratulations are due to last year's Knights player of the season, Trevor Krause (pictured), and wife Kylie, who celebrated the arrival of their first child last week.

Kylie, who worked alongside Leanne Cooper as club secretary last season, gave birth on Monday, February 9, to India Jade Krause, weighing 9lbs 10ozs.

Mum, dad and India are all happy and healthy.

Name change for fans

THE York RL Supporters' Club have officially changed their name to the York City Knights Suppor-ters' Club following their annual general meeting.

There was some dissension to the idea 12 months ago but members on Tuesday voted unanimously for the change.

Mike Miller, who had been acting-chairman since Louise Ince stepped down last year, was officially given the chairmanship, while secretary Dave Crosby and treasurer Ken Pearson kept their posts.

Knights' fundraising commit-tee members Alfie Brown and Phil Seymour were also voted onto the Supporters' Club committee, joining Gary Hall and Alan Moffat.

The AGM also saw the Supporters' Club, which is to financially back the Knights' plans for a scholarship scheme, decide to put more emphasis on fundraising events, starting with the Sportsman's Dinner to be held on Thursday, March 11.

They also have lined up a Six-ties theme night at Hunting- ton Stadium next month.

Regarding this Sportsman's Dinner, to be held at the Cottage Inn, Haxby (as we've previously reported), the Supporters' Club are seeking raffle prizes and auction items.

Fans are asked to hand any donations to Mike Miller in the Huntington Stadium bar before or after the Feather-stone game on March 7.

Mike will be in the bar from 1pm and again after the game.

Alternatively, donations can be delivered directly to the Cottage Inn, to Carol Wilcox (tel 01904 763949).

Anybody wishing to attend the Dinner and have items autographed by guest speakers Mick Morgan or Peter Lori-mer should call Carol, who has full details of the event.

KNIGHTS fans are being advised to congregate before tomorrow's match at the Royal Oak pub - on the recommendation of Danny Brough's father.

Mr Brough Snr lives in Dewsbury and says this pub, about 100 yards down Owl Lane from the stadium, is a decent place to meet up. Sunday lunches are served (tel 01924 273965 for bookings), though it is not advisable to leave cars in the car park during the game as there is a clamping sign.

THE Knights Supporters' Club are running a bus to tomorrow's game. To book a seat leave a message (including name, pick-up point and number of seats required) on 01904 750500. Cost is £5 and the departure times are:

Haxby (Catholic Church in Holly Tree Lane) 12.30pm, Huntington Stadium 12.45, New Lane (opposite Anthea Drive) 12.50, Dodsworth Avenue 12.55, Clarence Street (opposite Vets) 1pm, Blossom Street (opposite Odeon) 1.10, Tadcaster Road (Marriott Hotel) 1.15. The return coach will leave about an hour after the match, 6pm at the latest.

Knights' next five matches

Tomorrow: Dewsbury (A);

February 29: Sheffield - Challenge Cup R4 (A);

March 7: Featherstone (H);

March 14: Challenge Cup R5 (if qualify).

March 21: Batley (A).

All games on a Sunday. All games in Arriva Trains Cup except where stated.

Updated: 10:06 Saturday, February 21, 2004