IF proof were needed of the merits of having an academy set-up, then it was amply provided at Huntington Stadium this week.

York City Knights first-team boss Mick Cook was able to use Thursday night's game - the academy's first home match of the season - to have a look at a few first-teamers and thus help him decide who to play against Hunslet tomorrow.

Among them, big Joe Helme and fit-again John Smith got a bit more game-time under their belts, and Andy Gargan had a good run-out, while Toby Williams scored a most remarkable try which won't be forgotten by those who saw it. (I thought he was a prop, not a flying centre!) Some fringe players also got a chance to impress the onlooking Cook, such as Steve Grundy, Mark Spurr, Kyle Palmer and Tom Dunmore - the latter cementing his selection for tomorrow in the wake of more first-team injuries.

And, of course, the youngsters got some good experience at this level - coping with it pretty well, too, which bodes well for the future.

Furthermore, the healthy crowd was kept very much entertained as the entire team put on a superb show, full of bravery and belief, to come back from 24-4 down at half-time and draw 24-24 against a Halifax side who won the competition last year and fielded half a dozen first-teamers last night.

In fact, the Knights probably deserved to win and would have done had two of Danny Giles' conversion attempts, inlcuding the last one from wide out, not come back off an upright.

Palmer got the Knights' first-half try, and had another disallowed, while the second-half scores came from winger Joe Stearman (set up well by Grundy), Williams, Grundy and, with a fine leveller, Spurr.

NEW Earswick All Blacks ARLFC have arranged a race night to benefit former Knights favourite Mark Cain.

The 30-year-old, a product of the All Blacks club, was forced to retire in the off-season due to a serious knee injury.

Cain played for All Blacks juniors from the age of 12 until he signed for York - then York Wasps - aged 18. He also played for Dewsbury and Hull KR before signing for the Knights.

The race night will be at New Earswick Sports & Social Club on Wednesday, April 18, starting at 7pm.

Admission is free but donations will be accepted on the door. All Blacks are grateful to G&I Entertainments for their support.

All All Blacks players past and present, in particular any of Cain's ex team-mates, coaches and friends, are invited to attend.

Anyone wanting to support the event or requiring further information can contact Barry Davis on 01904 489502 or Phil (OJ) Johnson on 07766 465086.

THE crowd of 16,465 at Tuesday's match between Leeds and Wigan, the final game in round nine of engage Super League, created a new all-time record for the highest aggregate attendance for any week of the regular Super League season.

The six matches played on Easter Monday and Tuesday drew a total of 76,665 fans, at an average of 12,778 per game.

The previous highest aggregate was 69,830 in round seven of 2005.

The average attendance per game in Super League this year stands at 10,285. The previous all-time record average was last year's 9,026.

RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis said: "We are seeing more and more people become followers of the sport and we will continue working to maintain this progress."

Let's hope this filters through to the National League, eh.

Foundation stones laid

THE Knights were out in force in the city centre last week to collect for the good cause that is the Knights Foundation.

Players from both the first team and academy were out and about with collection tins, while the club staff also manned a stall in Parliament Street selling Knights merchandise, including brand new T-shirts and replica shirts of last season's kit at knock-down prices.

Apparently, sales went rather well, with tourists and out-of-towners joining locals in snapping up the goods.

The money raised - a total of £1,592.07 - went to the Foundation, the charity that helps the Knights take rugby coaching into schools and fight the good fight against childhood obesity and for healthiness in youngsters.

Mapals marks his award

LEE MAPALS collected his Player of the Month award for March ahead of the Knights' game at home to London Skolars - and promptly scored a try to go clear at the top of the club's try-scoring charts.

The award was presented by Gail Brown, who is on the four-strong panel of supporters whose votes decide the winner.

A SECOND man of the match award in three games has lifted Ryan Esders into the mix in the Press/Collier Plant Hire Player of the Year standings.

We deemed him the best player in the Knights' win over Skolars on Bank Holiday Monday as his controlled fight and thirst for work stood out, so he was awarded another three points.

The ever-consistent Rob Spicer (2pts), thankfully back from injury, was close behind in the ratings, and George Rayner (1pt) was error-free at the back and, of course, scored that magical solo try, so also adds to his tally.

Standings: Brown 10pts, Mapals 9, Esders 6, Wray 6, Helme 5, Spicer 5, Buckley 4, Rhodes 4, Rayner 4, Cakacaka 3, Williams 3, Elston 2, Spurr 2, MacDonald 1, Sullivan 1, Thackeray 1.

KNIGHTS STAT ATTACK

Good boys

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

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

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

Tries: Mapals 7, Brown 6, Rayner 6, Thackeray 5, Buckley 5, C Spurr 4, Elston 4, Helme 2, Rhodes 2, Smith 2, Esders 2, Cakacaka 2, Potter 2, Priestley, Liddell, Sullivan, Wray, Grundy, Lingard, Spicer all 1.

Goals: Wray 25/37; Gargan 8/9; Lingard 6/9; Liddell 1/2; Rayner 0/1.

Bad boys

Penalties for York: 86.

Penalties against York: 89.

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.