YORK City Knights are to cite Blackpool prop Andy Hobson after an off-the-ball incident left Nathan Freer needing several stitches in a huge gash above his left eye, writes Peter Martini.

Prop Freer, the sponsors’ man of the match, left the field with a bloodied face at the end of the Knights’ thrilling 24-22 Championship One win.

It is thought Hobson elbowed him without provocation in back play in the final moments before the full-time hooter.

Match commissioner Dave Asquith put in his report the allegations of foul play and details of Freer’s wound, while the Knights believe evidence was caught on the match video.

Knights coach James Ratcliffe said: “You don’t need that in rugby league.”

Ratcliffe was also unhappy with some of the refereeing from young St Helens whistleblower Chris Leatherbarrow, who was a late replacement for Ronnie Laughton.

“I thought the referee was pretty poor,” he said. “If you asked Martin Crompton (Blackpool coach) he’d say the same.

“He’s more than happy to pick up on technicalities such as moving off the mark and little things like that, but he’s missed blatant ones such as knock-ons and forward passes.

“But that’s something for people at the Rugby Football League to sort out.”