YORK City Knights coach Richard Agar bemoaned the errors and lack of urgency in his side after watching them crash to a 21-8 defeat to Hunslet.
The Knights were the bookmakers' tip for the National League Two title with Hunslet second-favourites, but Roy Sampson's side turned the tables to give an under-par York an early-season set-back.
Two sloppily-conceded tries early on put the Knights on the back foot and, with Agar's men failing to top double figures for the first time this season, they found it impossible to fight back in the wet conditions.
"We were totally out-enthused... and we were let down in one or two areas," said the Knights boss.
"We said before the game we thought it would be a 20-point game. In the greasy conditions and against a side so prepared to work hard for each other it would not be a high scoring game, so to get off to the start we did left us with a mountain to climb, particularly conceding two tries in the way we did. And 12 points is a bigger margin on a day like yesterday than on a dry day."
Agar, who also criticised the Knights' lack of sharpness in closing down Latham Tawhai's kicking game, added: "I don't think we were on the ball.
"Taking their first two tries into consideration, we should have eaten that ball up. Hunslet had no right to get to the ball but we had two players showing a lack of urgency and Hunslet showed that urgency."
As for the rest of the game, he said: "We made some uncharacteristic, unforced errors and, with the scoreboard taking over things, it's hard to push the ball in those conditions."
He added: "That's the nature of the competition. There are only 18 games and some extremely tough sides to beat. Everyone will be up for playing us and we've got to get that enthusiasm up there."
Agar singled out stand-off Scott Rhodes for praise and said others worked hard, but it wasn't enough to turn the game.
"It took some outstanding leadership from Scott Rhodes to take the game by the scruff of the neck and get our team back into it," he reasoned.
"I thought quite a few players worked hard throughout but sometimes hard work is not going to get you the result."
Hawks boss Roy Sampson was naturally delighted with the win. "I thought we were definitely the better side throughout the 80 minutes," he said.
"The penalty count was tough against us but we held it together really well. We took our early chances, there were some massive performances and defensively we looked sound.
"But it's only the second game and there's a long way to go. Hopefully we can be up there competing."
Updated: 11:12 Monday, April 19, 2004
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