THERE has been movement aplenty in the Press/Collier Plant Hire Player of the Year standings, with York City Knights having played three games since the last update.

Yesterday's match was largely one to forget, but under the rules of competition we must award player-of-the-year points.

George Rayner got three for being our man of the match, while the other points went to Scott Rhodes (2pts), although he probably would have been our top man if he hadn't lost his rag, and Jamaine Wray (1pt), who was also in with a shout for the top prize but blotted his copybook with badly missed conversions.

Before yesterday, Ryan Esders (3pts) got onto the leaderboard after we rated him the Knights' top player in the cup loss at Huddersfield last week.

The 20-year-old has looked far from out of place since he joined the semi-pro game and his fitness and tackling strength have been particularly prominent.

His hard-working display out of position at centre against the Giants was further evidence he could have a good career in the pro arena.

Centre Chris Spurr (2pts) scored the Knights' only try last week and it was a belter, too, again showing a blistering turn of pace. He had a fine all-round game, with another highlight being his cover tackle on Kevin Brown.

Jim Elston (1pt), meanwhile, caught the eye of Giants coach Jon Sharp for his work around the ruck.

Ian Brown (3pts) improved his lead at the top after we deemed him the top performer in the defeat to Halifax.

Lee Mapals stayed on his heels after collecting three three bonus points from being voted the Player of the Month for March.

Rob Spicer (2pts) was deemed our second-best player against Halifax and Anthony Thackeray (1pt) third-best, the latter thus getting onto the board.

Player of the Year standings: Brown 10pts, Mapals 9, Helme 5, Wray 5, Buckley 4, Spicer 3, Cakacaka 3, Williams 3, Esders 3, Elston 2, Rhodes 2, Spurr 2, MacDonald 1, Sullivan 1, Thackeray 1.

STAT ATTACK
Good boys

Press Player of the Month awards: Ian Brown 1, Lee Mapals 1.

Press man of the match awards: Brown 2, Wray, Cakacaka, Helme, Mapals, Williams, Esders, Rayner all 1.

Trade paper man of the match awards: Wray 3, Helme 2, Mapals 2, Thackeray 2, Williams, Rayner, Rhodes all 1.

Tries: Mapals 6, Brown 6, Rayner 5, Thackeray 5, Buckley 4, C Spurr 4, Elston 4, Helme 2, Rhodes 2, Smith 2, Priestley, Esders, Cakacaka, Liddell, Potter, Sullivan, Wray, Grundy, Lingard all 1.

Goals: Wray 25/37; Gargan 8/9; Liddell 1/2; Rayner 0/1, Lingard 0/2.

Bad boys

Penalties for York: 82.

Penalties against York: 78.

Yellow cards for York: MacDonald 2, Esders 1.

Yellow cards for opposition: Gateshead 2, Toulouse 2, Keighley 1.

Red cards for York: 0.

Red cards for opposition: 0.