YORK City Knights ace Nathan Graham lauded the courage in the Knights squad after they defied several injuries to reach the Arriva Trains Cup semi-finals.

As reported by the Evening Press, the already decimated squad had to play the last hour-half of Sunday's game at Halifax with only one substitute to rotate after Mick Ramsden, Simon Friend and Dan Briggs were forced off, meaning Yusuf Sozi, Damian Ball and Aaron Wood had to play on through injury.

The Knights nevertheless trounced the Super League drop-outs and in doing so upped their club record winning run to six games, the first time York have won six on the bounce since the old club won the last five games of the 1998 season and the first of 1999.

The last time York won six on the trot in one campaign was in 1992, while the last time they reached the semi-finals of a major cup competition was 1984, when they lost to Wigan in the Challenge Cup.

"It was a brilliant performance," said Graham of Sunday's 37-14 triumph. "Halifax are struggling in their division but they're a division above us and we've not just beaten them but we've done so convincingly.

"There were a lot of brave people in there, a lot of people with knocks coming out and doing a job when really they should not have been on the field."

Graham toed the party line in stressing the club's priority remained the LHF Healthplan National League Two campaign but added the cup run was good for the city as a whole.

"We've all said our main focus is the league and finishing top, and this is another side issue we've got to cope with. But it's a nice sideline and it's good for the supporters.

"We've reached two quarter-finals this season (the other was the Challenge Cup quarter-final against Huddersfield) and now a semi-final and it's great for York, for the fans, the club and the city."

As for those supporters, he said: "Once again they were brilliant. They turned out in full force and got behind the lads all the time.

"It is something we have got to be proud of. There are no other teams in our division, and not many in the division above, who have the same level of support, the same kind of numbers and that kind of vocal backing.

"They really do give you a big lift when you're tired or struggling and basically it's fantastic."

On the injury front, hooker Jim Elston was set for surgery on his injured knee today and as such could be fit to return within a month.

The specialist has chosen to undertake an exploratory operation - rather than a scan and possible follow-up surgery at a later date - believing Elston's injury, sustained in the victory over Swinton last week, to be cartilage damage. If that diagnosis is correct, repairs could be carried out during today's surgery.

A spokesperson for the Knights said they hoped Elston would be back within three to four weeks, should it all go to plan today.

Leeds Rhoinos make take legal action to prevent their former player Iestyn Harris moving from rugby union clud Cardiff Blues to Bradford Bulls.

The Headingley-based club believe they have first refusal on former Great Britain stand-off Harris, 28, who left Leeds three years ago to switch to union. He is hoping to sign a four-year deal with Bradford.

Updated: 11:01 Tuesday, June 08, 2004