It's a knockout

A bumper crowd is expected - some fans have suggested 2,000 might turn up - as York City Knights' quest for a shock promotion reaches its next major hurdle.

Furthermore, the knockout series will be a new experience for Knights fans as York have never before been in a play-off.

Indeed, the last time former club York Wasps won promotion was through the basic league system having finished second in the old Division Two in 1998 - though, of course, that 'promotion' was meaningless as the league then reverted to a single division.

Knights boss Paul Broadbent, however, has experience of the play-offs in Super League and reckons they could prove successful.

"I think the play-offs are a good thing on the whole," he told the Evening Press. "It gives everybody something to play for and makes it interesting towards the end of the season.

"Our league has been very close but sometimes it could be done and dusted with several weeks left and then it becomes a bit of a going-through-the-motions scenario. Play-offs add value to it."

Broadbent agreed there was a case for automatic promotion for the team that finishes top with play-offs for others, because, as it is, promotion could be decided by luck on the day rather than by who has been the most consistent over the season. But he said he had "no major problem with the way it is", especially when the league campaign has been closely fought.

He added: "In Division One, Salford and Leigh have been the best teams and it would be a little unjust if anyone else won promotion. The most consistent team would be the one with the best chance of being competitive at the higher level.

"But I don't think there's that much in it between the top six in Division Two, and we're aiming to go up from fourth.

He added: "They're constantly changing the goalposts so it might be an idea to find a system and stick with it and see how it settles.

"It's a good series and somewhere along the line there's got to be that extra to play for. I don't criticise it too much as all in all it works okay."

THE end of strike action by First York drivers means free buses are back on for tomorrow's match to ferry supporters from different areas of the city to the stadium. They go from:

Thanet Road Baths (Edmund Wilson) 2pm, picking up at Stonebow Job Centre 2.15pm;

Burton Stone Lane (Corner House) 2pm, picking up at Lowther Street (shops) 2.15pm;

to wait at York Railway Station forecourt from 2pm to meet potential trains from Barrow, departing 2.20pm to stadium.

Return buses depart Huntington Stadium at 5pm.

SEVERAL issues could be settled tomorrow when the Knights play Barrow, and one of them is the Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire player of the year.

The game could be the Knights' last this season - let's hope not - and if so, it would mean only three players are in the running for the top prize.

Captain Rich Hayes propelled himself up to second with the three points from his man-of-the-match award in the stunning victory over Chorley a fortnight ago, and is now in contention with leader Trevor Krause and third-placed Danny Brough for the overall award.

If the Knights win, however, then there might yet be a chance for Scott Rhodes and Lee Jackson and perhaps Mark Cain to get in on the act as they are not too far behind.

The man of the match in each game is awarded three points, the second best player two points and the third best one point. Whoever tops the table at the end of the season wins £300 courtesy of Collier Plant Hire and the runner-up pockets £150.

Two new players got on the charts after the win over Chorley, with Aussie Mark Stewart being awarded two points for his two-try heroics, while crocked forward John Okul took the remaining point after making a big impact off the bench.

Alex Godfrey and Graeme Hallas climbed the table after they took three and two points, respectively, in last week's win over Hunslet, Darren Callag-han collecting the remainder.

Standings: Krause 19pts, Hayes 17, Brough 16, Rhodes 13, Jackson 13, Cain 12, Smith 12, Law 10, Hallas 8, Callaghan 8, Broadbent 8, Godfrey 7, Fletcher 6, Kama 5, Ramsden 4, Helme 3, Forsyth 3, Thaler 3, Lloyd 3, Beever 3, Stewart 2, Hughes 2, Okul 1, Woodcock 1, Bolus 1.

Presents for Knights ever-presents

KNIGHTS captain Rich Hayes and Aussie ace Trevor Krause last week collected individual silverware to mark their ever-present contribution to the Knights' crusade.

Neither has missed a game throughout the regular season, having played in all ten Arriva Trains Cup games, both Challenge Cup ties and all 18 National League Two games.

Veteran Hayes, who has been granted a forthcoming testimonial match and recently topped 400 professional appearances, proved his huge frame still has what it takes - though he has yet to reveal whether he will hang up his boots over the winter. Krause has already confirmed he will leave York at the end of the campaign to return to Australia, but has stressed his determination to go out on a high.

FANS dug deep for injured winger George Mack at half-time of last Friday's defeat of Hunslet.

As reported by the Press, the flier had to pay his own way out of his contract at Dewsbury to play for the Knights but broke his leg on his debut three weeks ago. Fans therefore raised cash for him in a bucket collection.

Mack and fellow injured new-boy John Okul had travelled to York from Dewsbury and Hull, respectively, for Friday's game, and it was also interesting to see Neil Law, the Otley RU centre who starred for the Knights earlier this season, was also there.

TOP marks for subtlety to whoever chose the tune with which to welcome Hunslet Hawks onto the pitch last week.

However irritating, Eighties chart ditty 'The Birdie Song' may well have ruffled a few feathers in the visitors' camp and in the end the flighty tune was perhaps inappropriate given the ferocity of some of the action.

May I suggest using 'I'm A Man Not A Boy' by the one and only Chesney Hawkes next time Hunslet visit.

A COLLECTION will be held at tomorrow's match for the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society.

Linda Hill, who has recently left York Acorn ARLC after 30 years' service, 25 of them as treasurer, is now fundraising manager for the Bootham-based charity, which is starting its silver jubilee.

She said: "We'd like to thank the Knights and we wish them all the best. They've supported us and we support them, we hope they win tomorrow and go on to get promoted.

"We provide a much-needed service for more than 1,000 registered blind people in York and all the funds raised will benefit the visually impaired people of the city."

THE second edition of the Knights newsletter will be available for fans tomorrow.

Copies can be picked up for free from the turnstiles.

THIS column a few weeks ago hailed the comedy genius that can occasionally be found in the Player Profile column in the Knights' match-day programmes.

And right on cue, up stepped Alex Godfrey (pictured right) with a few corkers to rival those of joker-in-chief Craig Forsyth:

Question: Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with? Godfrey: My ex-girlfriend.

Question: Who would you most like to be stranded on a desert island with? Godfrey: My ex-girlfriend's mum. (When asked which girlfriend he referred to, strangely enough he couldn't remember.)

Question: What's your best attribute? Godfrey: My ability not to take Scot Rhodes, Mark Cain or life too seriously.

Question: What was the last film/video you saw? Godfrey: Wax 2 The Max.

Question: What couldn't you live without? Godfrey: My Wax 2 The Max video and my soul glow.

Question: What do you hope to be doing in five years' time? Godfrey: Starring in Wax 2 The Max II.

It is not known exactly what 'soul glow' is, and nor is it known what type of movie 'Wax 2 The Max' is, or even if it exists. Suffice to say the Evening Press' film critics have never heard of it.

Updated: 11:45 Saturday, September 13, 2003