SIMON Friend kept in touch with the leaders in the latest batch of Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire points.

The powerful Aussie second-row gave another bone-shaking display in last week's win over London Skolars to collect two player-of-the-year points to move back up to joint-third in the standings.

The big winner this week, though, was man of the match Mark Cain, whose impact on the game, which included two tries and two assists, helped the Knights to a big win.

He thus collected three points, while the remainder went to blockbusting prop Yusuf Sozi, who also weighed in with two tries.

Cain also picked up a bonus point, as decided via the fans' votes. He and Scott Rhodes came joint-top of the Eveing Press readers' poll for man of the match and so both players collected an extra point, Rhodes' counter inching him nearer to long-time leader Lee Jackson.

To vote for your man of the match, send a postcard to Peter Martini, Evening Press Sportsdesk, 76-86 Walm-gate, York, YO1 9YN or email peter.martini@ycp.co.uk, leaving your full name, address and daytime contact number.

Latest standings: Jackson 20pts, Rhodes 18, Brough 16, Ball 16, Friend 16, Callaghan 13, Langley 13, Graham 7, Elston 7, Cain 6, Forsyth 6, Godfrey 5, Stewart 5, Sozi 4, Briggs 2, J Smith 2, Wood 2, Buchanan 2, Hayes 1, Andrews 1, Walker 1.

Updated: 09:49 Saturday, June 26, 2004