A MASSIVE pat on the back is due to Supporters' Club chairman Mike Miller following Thursday's excellent Sports-man's Dinner in aid of the Knights' scholarship scheme.

The packed-out bash at The Cottage Inn in Haxby, which was organised by Miller, featured former Leeds and Scot-land footballer Peter Lorimer and ex-York RL player Mick Morgan as guest speakers, while Morgan compered an auction of sporting goodies.

Knights coach Richard Agar also made an appearance after their training session, along with players Darren Callag-han, Craig Forsyth, Simon Friend, Aaron Wood and Mick Ramsden.

The event had seen Miller and Supporters' Club members work tirelessly to bring in lots to go under the hammer and it all paid off as the auction alone raise more than £1,000.

Lorimer deserves due credit too for throwing in to the auction two VIP tickets to the forthcoming Leeds versus Manchester City Premiership clash at Elland Road, which, if memory serves me right (fat chance of that!), brought a whopping £160 or thereabouts. (As a City fan I feel well-qualified to joke that it's a waste of money.)

The full figure of how much the evening raised has yet to be calculated, but it is likely to be a healthy sum, so well done all involved, including The Cottage Inn itself.

TWO York City Knights Supporters' Club buses will run to Sunday's big tie at Featherstone.

One will go direct from Haxby (leaving 12.30pm) and then Huntington Stadium (12.45pm) to Featherstone, with fans who booked seats earliest having first option.

The other will pick up from: Haxby (Holly Tree Lane) 12.30pm, Huntington Stadium (rear car park) 12.45, New Lane (opposite Anthea Drive) 12.50, Haxby Road (outside Jo Ro Theatre) 12.55, Clarence Street (opposite vets) 1pm, Exhibition Square (outside theatre) 1.05, Blossom Street (opposite Odeon) 1.10, Tadcaster Road (Marriott Hotel) 1.15pm. Cost is £5 per person, under-12s free. Return coaches will set off about one hour after the match. Anyone interested should leave a message on 01904 750500 up to 11am tomorrow.

CONGRATULATIONS to York RL stalwart Jim Bone for his success on the bowling green.

This column previously reported that lifelong fan Jim, now a leading member of the supporters' committee, was to play for the Yorkshire Seniors indoor bowls team against Lancashire over at Blackpool in the inter-county senior championship.

Jim's team duly thrashed the Red Rose side 7-1, a victory which I believe brought them the league title.

Updated: 10:36 Saturday, March 13, 2004