STAR import Trevor Krause has declared his dedication to York and his desire to help the City Knights regain their form and go on to win promotion.

The Aussie - given the tag of 'Clever Trevor' by the supporters - was unknown to most fans when he arrived in England just before the start of the campaign but he has so far been one of the top players for the Knights. He heads the Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire player-of-the-season standings and tops the Knights' try-scoring charts (see below for details).

However, as befits his reputation as a team player rather than a one-man show, he was mainly concerned about the form of the side.

"My own form has improved I think since I went to hooker, it's where I feel more comfortable," said Krause, who had started at scrum-half before injury to ex-Great Britain hooker Lee Jackson saw him take up the number nine shirt.

"But the team side of things is more important and it's disappointing we've had a couple of bad results recently.

"It's not been the best of starts (to the National League Two campaign) over the Easter weekend but we are not going to write off promotion by any means. There is still every chance we can get there, we've just got to get back on track."

Krause, who is from Wogga Wogga, between Sydney and Melbourne, had been playing for Temora - and winning a host of individual awards - in Australia's Group Nine league, effectively two levels below the National Rugby League.

As for England's National League, he said: "It's a similar standard to what I was playing in Australia. There are some really good players in the league and there is a lot of quality at York.

"We have had injuries but we've got players in the squad who are capable of replacing the injured players, but it's a matter of getting some continuity in the side. Although we've been playing for ten or 12 weeks, a lot of the time we've had to make changes and in key positions as well.

"It's now a case of knuckling down and getting it right."

As for his new home in the Minster city, he added: "It's a pretty place to live. Compared to some of the places I could have ended up in, it's a very nice place and I'm enjoying it.

"Apart from the recent results I'm having a great time in York."

THERE has been a fair bit of movement in the player-of-the-year standings since the last Play The Ball column - three matches having taken place since then - but that man Trevor Krause remains at the top.

Indeed the Aussie extended his advantage with another man-of-the-match display in the first of those three games, against Featherstone, but skipper Rich Hayes has come a calling with a three-point haul of his own against Gateshead plus an additional point in the Featherstone match.

Chris Beever, whose twinkle toes put York on a few good attacks in both those matches, was awarded one and two points respectively, while in the Gateshead game player-coach Paul Broadbent won two for his efforts alongside Hayes at prop.

Player-assistant coach Graeme Hallas took the three points on Bank Holiday Mon-day after his two-try show on his return from injury.

Centre Gareth Lloyd, who set up the first try for Rikki Sheriffe and twice came close when taking several tacklers to the line, picks up two points, while the last goes to Scott Rhodes who was prominent in attack. Krause, Broadbent and Mick Ramsden just missed out on adding to their tallies.

TREVOR Krause underlined his good form throughout the Arriva Trains Cup by finishing as the Knights' top try-scorer in the competition.

His two tries in the last fixture of the group section took the 30-year-old's tally to seven in the ten ATC games, leapfrogging Chris Smith on six, with Darren Callaghan and Mark Cain one behind on five.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Krause, Smith and Callaghan were the only players, along with Scott Fletcher and prop Rich Hayes, to start every game in the competition.

FORMER York Wasps assistant coach Martin Flynn was back celebrating a win at Huntington Stadium last week - for the opposition.

Flynn, a former Academy coach who was assistant to Leo Epifania in the Wasps' ill-fated 2002 season, is now assistant to Paul Fletcher at Gateshead Thunder, who beat the Knights over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Flynn was offered the post after being given the job of RL development officer for the North East, and his arrival at the Thunderdome has coincided with an upturn in fortunes.

Fletcher's men, without a win for almost two years, shipped in nearly 200 points in two Arriva Trains Cup games against Salford immediately before Flynn's arrival but since then have won twice in four matches.

Flynn's former job of heading up the York and North Yorkshire Service has since gone to Paul Higgins, who has strong connections with York Acorn ARLC.

ANYONE spot the major blooper in Sheffield Eagles' match programme last Sunday?

According to the front cover, the Eagles were playing a home match that day against Hull - yes, Hull - City Knights.

Now I know York have in their ranks a fair few players who have played for Hull or Hull KR in the past, but to call them Hull City Knights is going a bit far.

At least they got the right competition, I suppose, unlike the Knights, whose programme on Good Friday labelled the National League Two opener against Gateshead as an Arriva Trains Cup clash.

TICKETS are available for a York City Knights Supporters' Club bash on Tuesday, May 6 at Huntington Stadium, starting at 7.30pm.

The evening of light entertainment with feature the Harlequin Singers and the £5 price also include a buffet. Tickets can be bought from either the club office on 01904 656105 or Supporters' Club treasurer Ken Pearson on 01904 769861.

Fans tie the knot despite Phil's flimsy footwork

A HONEYMOON to remember nearly turned into a 'holiday toe forget' for Knights fan and committee man Phil Seymour and his new wife, fellow supporter Julie (nee Smith).

As reported by this column, the duo flew to Jamaica to tie the knot under a gazebo on a beautiful sandy island. They have now returned saying a wonderful time was had by all - though things didn't go entirely to plan as Phil nearly 'put his foot in it'.

On the second day of their two-week holiday, a week before the duo were due to tie the knot, Phil 'did a Beckham' and broke the metatarsal bone in his foot while playing football on the beach.

Thankfully this did not hinder the ceremony as Phil 'put his best foot forward', but there was further trouble in store for the hobbling husband on the way home, as customs officer took one look at his limp and decided to check he wasn't a 'toerag' carrying anything he shouldn't have been.

Poor Phil had to 'toe the line' as he was asked to take off his shoes and socks - but thankfully nothing else - to prove he was hiding nothing before being allowed to 'hotfoot' it to the aeroplane.

"We had a great time and Phil's injury only added to the fun," laughed Julie.

Footnote: Apologies for the puns.

Updated: 11:50 Saturday, April 26, 2003