HAIR-RAISING forward Craig Forsyth reckons fluid football not fiery flare-ups should be the order of the day at Huntington Stadium tomorrow.
York City Knights take on Featherstone Rovers for the fourth time in seven weeks when the arch-rivals clash for a place in the Arriva Trains Cup quarter-finals (ko 3pm).
And power-packed prop Forsyth believes the National League One outfit will not revert to dirty tricks this time after failing to intimidate the Knights so far.
York lead the series 3-0 after memorable victories in the Challenge Cup and twice in the ATC group stage, but the matches have been increasingly fraught affairs with a total of three red cards and eight yellows being shown.
Indeed, the last game between the sides, on Good Friday, saw Rovers have two players sent off - one for a wild high tackle and the other for punching - as they lost their rag on their way to a terrible treble.
"We rose above the dirty tricks and played rugby league," said Forsyth of the last encounter.
"I think we will play our same game and stick to our professionalism, and if they've got any sense they will try to play football this time instead of trying to knock our heads off as it didn't work last time and in fact contributed to their downfall."
Forsyth reckons promotion from National League Two is the priority ahead of ATC glory but says the Knights will want to put behind them last week's disappointing league defeat to Hunslet by overcoming Rovers again.
"It's in every player's interest to do as well as they can in each game but getting out of National League Two is certainly the priority," he said.
"Everybody will be giving 100 per cent as usual though. Featherstone will certainly want to get some pride back from the previous defeats but there'll be nothing better for us than not letting them get that pride back. There's motivation in both camps to win."
TOMORROW'S SQUADS:
Knights: probable Graham, C Smith or Stewart, Langley, Wood, Walker, Rhodes, Brough, Wilson, Jackson, Sozi, Callaghan, Friend, Ball. Subs from Elston, J Smith, Forsyth, Stewart, Andrews, Kama, Burland.
Rovers: from Batty, Moss, Stokes, Wray, Presley, C Briggs, Jarrett, Chapman, Dickens, Dooler, Henare, A Hayes, Ford, Darley, Tonks, Lowe, Blakeway.
Referee: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield) Kick-off: 3pm
Updated: 09:50 Saturday, April 24, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article