THERE is a new Press Player of the Month – and it is much-deserved according to head coach Dave Woods.

Hooker Jack Lee took the award in both May and June and was very much in the running for the July accolade too. However, this latest gong, voted for by Press readers, saw back-rower Luke Hardbottle come out on top.

Hardbottle has not been hitting the headlines in the scoring stakes – in fact he only has two in 16 appearances – but his work-rate, expert tackling technique and increasing influence on matches have not gone unnoticed by the supporters who sent in their votes.

And Woods said: “I think the award is deserved.

“When I first came to the club (as director of rugby in April), I watched him play and he was a normal footballer running around doing his work. But he’s improved week in week out.

“He runs some good lines in attack and his defence is first class. He’s not one of these flashy players but his work rate and what he does is really good for us.”

As for that defence, which has caught the eye, especially for a player who lacks size for a back-rower, Woods said: “He’s one of those old-fashioned tacklers who tackles around the legs. You don’t get that a lot in rugby league these days, but his technique is good.”

Hardbottle joined York in the off-season after being released by Leeds Rhinos.

He was in and out of the Knights’ team earlier in the year but has started the last eight games, seven at loose-forward, winning two Press man-of-the-match awards in the process – and also being offered a new contract for 2011. The player was now considering his options, one of which was going to Australia.

Woods reckoned the 21-year-old could return to the top flight in the future, but hoped he would continue his development at Huntington Stadium.

“If anything it’s his size that has held him back a bit but, to me, if you’re good enough it doesn’t matter how big you are,” said Woods when asked if he thought Hardbottle could make it in Super League.

“If he keeps learning and keeps improving, then he’s definitely got that chance.”

Hardbottle gets three bonus points to add on to his Press/Northern Player of the Year tally courtesy of his Press Player of the Month award, and these lift him almost silently up to fourth place and in the running for the podium prizes – further proof of his growing influence.

Danny Ratcliffe was the other big winner this week after being The Press’ man of the match (3pts) in the win at Swinton, shining at scrum-half and even more so back in his favoured position at full-back after James Haynes was injured.

A couple of try-saving tackles, in addition to his six conversions, meant a few fans had him down as the difference between defeat and victory at Park Lane.

Indeed, the clamour for the club to sign him up for next season is growing. The last report was that the parties would wait until the end of this campaign before discussing next year.

Chris Thorman had a hand in much of the good things the Knights did in attack last week and was deemed The Press’ second-best player (2pts), while man-of-the-moment Ryan Esders (1pt) could not be kept off the scoresheet after a debut which yielded a crucial hat-trick.

Northern Rail/Press Player of the Year standings: Lee 20pts, Waterman 19, Ross 16, Hardbottle 13, Waller 11, Ratcliffe 11, McLocklan 10, Thorman 9, Freer 9, Tuffour 7, Benson 6, Stearman 6, Blakeway 5, Lineham 4, Applegarth 4, Stamp 3, Fallon 3, Bromilow 2, Wilson 2, Reittie 2, Hill 2, Lewis 2, Clough 1, Esders 1.


Press/Northern Player of the Year leader Jack Lee was unlucky to add to his tally this week, but he has kept himself in the headlines courtesy of his try-scoring run.

Having opened his account on his debut away to Rochdale at the end of April, he went three matches without touching down again. But since, then, not counting a blank in the Northern Rail Cup quarter-final defeat at Keighley, the former Featherstone hooker has crossed the whitewash in each of the Knights’ last eight Co-operative Championship One matches – the longest try-scoring run in the Championships.

In that time he has racked up ten tries, taking his tally to 11 in his 13 appearances for the club.

It’s a scoring rate which compares well with that of top-scorer Lee Waterman, who had 22 tries in his 22 appearances before breaking a bone in his foot, and the now departed cult hero Dennis Tuffour, who notched nine in 11 games.

But do you know who has the best strike-rate of all the players at the club?

It’s a certain Johnny Schofield, who bagged seven touchdowns in six appearances in the first half of the season, including a hat-trick against Gateshead. He hasn’t played in the first team since mid-April.


LEE WATERMAN can count the cost of his injury on a few counts. He has lost ground not only in the Press/Northern Player of the Year stakes but also in the points-scoring stakes.

Having led the Championships table before his injury, which has ruled him out of the last three games, he has now dropped down to fourth.

He remains by far the top-scorer among Championship One players, on 262, from 22 tries and 88 goals, but Barrow’s Jamie Rooney now leads the overall stakes on 283, followed by Halifax’s Lee Paterson – not the former York player of the same name – and Batley’s ex-Knight, Gareth Moore, who are both on 270.


TALKING of awards, the Knights’ plush end-of-season presentation ceremony is moving this year from York Racecourse to the Novotel, off Fishergate in central York. The Novotel is one of the Knights’ sponsors.

The event will be held on Friday, September 17 – midway through the play-off period and hopefully before the Knights’ season ends.

Only a limited number of tickets are still available, priced £45 per person. This includes a drinks reception, three-course meal, the awards presentation, raffles and auctions, and a live band and disco. To book, phone the Knights office on 01904 641724.

Meanwhile, the Knights Supporters’ Club presentation evening will be held at the Hospital Club, White Cross Road, on Friday, September 10, starting at 8pm.

Tickets cost £10, to include the presentation, a buffet and disco, with many players expected to attend. Tickets are available from all committee members.


AND talking of the fans, Supporters’ Club member Barry Matthews provided 20-plus white roses for York fans to wear last Sunday at the match at Swinton – to help celebrate Yorkshire Day.

The Knights supporters unsurprisingly donned them with pride – though I’m not sure how well it went down with the home supporters from the other side of the Pennines.


THE Supporters’ Club will be running an overnight trip to the match at South Wales Scorpions next weekend.

Kick off is 1pm on Sunday. The itinerary involves leaving Huntington Stadium at 10am on Saturday and returning to York after the game on Sunday.

The price is dependent on numbers travelling but will be kept to a minimum. There will be discounts for under-16s and travel club members.

Phone Gary Hall on 01904 634902 for further details.