DAVE WOODS says York City Knights’ season goal has not changed despite the inconsistent results so far – and that goal is to win promotion.

The Aussie, who joined the club as director of rugby six weeks ago, has so far overseen an inconsistent run of two wins and three losses, one of those defeat coming to Super League club Crusaders in the Challenge Cup but the other two being home defeats in Championship One.

Those results – making it five wins and five losses in total in the league – have left head coach James Ratcliffe’s men down in fifth, some eight points off the automatic promotion spot, and having played more games than their main rivals, at the midway point of the campaign. They had, in pre-season, been expected to contend the title.

Some fans have since suggested writing off this season already to instead start building for 2011, but Woods – who took both Castleford and minnows Gateshead to promotion in his two head coaching jobs in British rugby league – says the club’s aims remain the same.

“The season’s aims are to be up there in the semi-finals (play-offs) and getting promoted,” he told The Press. “There’s still no reason why we can’t do that. We need more consistency.”

The club also set the team a target for May, which had long been pinpointed as a crucial month in the title race, with the Knights facing five key matches all against teams expected to be in the running. They have so far won one but lost two of those games so far, ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Rochdale.

Woods said: “The monthly goals – we’re still on target for May but we need to win our next two games to achieve it. The loss to Swinton should never have happened after we led the game like that, and we expected more out of the boys against Hunslet on Sunday. This week’s game is really important now.”

Woods said the team faced a challenge to get back in promotion contention – and admitted he faced a challenge himself in his new surroundings and in his new role.

“It’s different. It’s been tough so far but I’m enjoying the challenge,” he said. “I’m used to being a head coach so the role is a bit different. It’s also different due to the education of the players and how far behind I think they are.

“It’s an easy game but they make it difficult sometimes. It’s about being patient, giving them certain goals to work to in a game and different systems, making sure the right systems are in place and the right defensive structures.”

Woods also identified areas for improvement both in the way the team play and in their attitude off the field and to training.

“I’m used to more intensity in training and that hasn’t been there,” he said. “I’ve spoken to James (Ratcliffe) about it and he recognises that. He’s trying to get them to focus more in training and to take that into games.

“Players’ attitudes have to be good as well. There are occasions when players don’t come to training. We’ve addressed that. They have to be there – it’s a job for them. It’s not a full-time job but they’re expected to be there. We’ve tightened up on that.

“We’ve also just tried to put some things in place that have worked for me but which I don’t think we were doing.”

Some of those comments above could be construed as a slight on the coaching team before the Aussie’s arrival, not least head coach Ratcliffe.

But Woods said the new partnership was working fine. “We haven’t had arguments or disagreements,” he said. “I’ve put things forward and he’ll say yes or no and give reasons. We’re throwing ideas around. It’s good. I think it’s working okay.”

Woods is also under no illusions that the club need to strengthen at centre and at half-back, especially in the wake of Chris Thorman’s ongoing quad injury. Those positions have long been earmarked for improvement by Ratcliffe.

Said Woods: “Results have not been great. Since I’ve been here it’s been loss, win, loss, win, loss. We need to work on consistency. We need some strike centres and we’d really like to get a half-back who’s good at organising and controlling. Jack Lee has come in at hooker and he’s doing a good job. We need someone who can be a leader.

“It should not be left up to Chris Thorman. Other players need to stick their hand up. You don’t want to be relying on one person.”

He added: “There are lots of things to work on but we are working hard.”

THIS column mentioned last week that hopefully it wouldn’t be too long before Danny Ratcliffe finally got on the Press/Northern Rail Player of the Year leaderboard.

Well this week he has done that. The full-back, the Co-operative Championship One Young Player of the Year runner-up last season, was deemed by The Press to be the Knights’ second best player against Hunslet and so he collects two points to kick-start his tally.

No one really stood out in what was a disappointing loss to arch-rivals Hunslet, but on-loan hooker Jack Lee was deemed our man of the match so gets the three-point maximum, while Steve Lewis - who has recently returned to the line-up, in the second row, to decent effect – collected the remaining one player-of-the-year point as our third-best player on the day.

Northern/Press Player of the Year standings: Waterman 16pts, Ross 13, McLocklan 10, Waller 8, Thorman 7, Tuffour 7, Lee 6, Freer 5, Blakeway 5, Applegarth 4, Stamp 3, Fallon 3, Stearman 2, Bromilow 2, Wilson 2, Benson 2, Reittie 2, Hill 2, Ratcliffe 2, Lewis 2, Hardbottle 1, Lineham 1.

THE Knights Under-16s complete what has proven to be a superb mini-season today.

The young Knights, one of few clubs from the Championships to take part in the six-fixture scholarship programme, visit Super League club Huddersfield Giants (1.15pm), at Huddersfield YMCA RUFC.

York have won three of their five fixtures so far, against Super League counterparts Bradford and Championship duo Sheffield and Featherstone, with two defeats, to top-flight outfits Castleford and Hull KR. Don’t forget to see Park Life for junior RL reports.

THE Knights Supporters’ Club coach to Rochdale tomorrow will leave The Ainsty at noon, Clarence Street at 12.15pm and Huntington Stadium at 12.30pm.

The price is £14 for adults, or £6 for under-16s and Travel Club members. To book, phone 07958 569266.

Riding high as fundraiser proves a huge hit

ORGANISER Phil Seymour has thanked all Knights fans who took part in last week’s Martyn Miller Charity Bike Ride – and revealed it might become an annual event after they smashed the target for money raised.

No fewer than 85 riders – far more than first expected – completed the 30-mile round trip from Huntington Stadium to Riccall and back again ahead of kick off for the Knights’ match against Hunslet. The initial idea was to ride the 30 miles from Hunslet’s ground to York’s, but that proved unworkable.

The event was in memory of Martyn Miller, a big Knights fan and keen cyclist, who died of cancer last year, aged 42. Money raised went to Macmillan Cancer Support and the Higgo’s 13-a-Side Rugby Foundation, formed in honour of former Knights academy and scholarship chief Paul Higgins.

Seymour said: “It was a fantastic day, far better than we could have ever imagined. I think we have done Martyn proud. His wife Sue led the way, along with other members of the family, relatives of Paul Higgins and many of Martyn’s friends and colleagues.

“We set ourselves an initial target of having 50 riders and raising £2,000. It’s looking like we’ll raise more than £4,000 when all the sponsorship money comes in, so we are over the moon to have achieved that.

“I have to thank all of the riders, my wife Juls, my in-laws June and Mike and my sister-in law Sue, all of whom played big parts in helping organise the ride, and also the merry band of volunteers who helped out on the day.

“A good few of the riders are already asking when next year’s ride will be, so it looks like it may become an annual event.”