JOE McLOCKLAN is facing a York City Knights club fine after failing to turn up for the reserves’ match at Oldham on Saturday.

The former Featherstone hooker, a big signing when he stepped down to the Championship One outfit, was recently told he could find another club having failed to live up to expectations.

He nevertheless remains under contract and was named in the 17-man reserves – but, as revealed on thepress.co.uk on Saturday, his non-show left coach Mick Ramsden short of players, and they duly lost 48-16, with 26 of the Roughyeds’ points coming in the last 20 minutes as his young side tired.

Knights director of rugby Dave Woods said: “He said he was coming, and all it’s done is let his mates down.”

The Knights last week effectively placed McLocklan and fellow big signing Danny Hill on the transfer list amid criticism of some players’ attitudes.

Woods added: “We want to change the culture at the place. We want people who want to be here and want to play.

“We will speak to Joe on Tuesday (at training).”

Scrum-half Jonathan Schofield pressed claims for a first-team recall with two tries and two goals, Derek Chatt getting the Knights’ other touchdown.

Player/assistant-coach Chris Thorman came through 25 minutes before being taken off and saved for yesterday’s Championship One clash against Blackpool.

Playmaker Thorman was coming back from a month out with a quad injury.

Teenager Ed Smith, who was also supposed to play on both days after being a shock call-up to the first team, was withdrawn at half-time after suffering a dead leg.

This injury prevented the scholarship graduate from making his first-team debut.

The Knights therefore played out the second period three replacements light, and with several men playing out of position, and they tailed off, having been well in the game at 22-16 down despite playing the first half up the slope at Oldham’s Whitebank ground.

One positive, though, was the performance of prop Alex Benson. He played the full 80 minutes and stood out throughout, earning a late return to the first-team yesterday in Smith’s stead.

Among other players to impress were former scholarship forward Josh Mortimer and Irish student Sean Carmody at full-back.

Woods said York Acorn ARLC prop Davey Burns also showed up well on his debut after joining the club on trial, though he now needed to work on his fitness.