Top of the shots

The little scrum-half with a goal-seeking missile launcher in his left boot has surged to the summit of three different charts thanks to his latest super show in the blue of the Knights.

The 21-year-old points machine gleaned himself another 20-plus points last Sunday in the 64-8 demolition of Gateshead Thunder and in doing so went top of both the point-scoring and goal-scoring charts in National League Division Two.

His all-round display also earned him his third Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire man of the match accolade and the three points awarded moved him to the top of the Knights player of the season standings, ahead of long-time leader Trevor Krause (see below).

Brough scored his fifth try for the club and kicked ten conversions to take his goal tally to 60 plus two drop-goals. His points tally therefore rose to 142 in 11 games since moving to Huntington Stadium, at an average close to 13 points per game.

To put it into some perspective, Brough's personal match average is five points greater than the average number of points scored in a match by York Wasps in the 18 doomed months leading up to their demise.

Knights boss Paul Broadbent said: "It's a reflection of the form he's shown in recent weeks. He's been playing some pretty consistent stuff for a while, as have quite a few of the guys, and it's justifiable that he's at the top of the scoring charts.

"It always shows when teams are winning games that their players get recognition and this shows that he has got some real qualities."

Broadbent has been delighted with the number seven's all-round game and added that his goalkicking expertise was a real plus.

"The team has got to score tries for him to convert goals but an extra two points for every try is very valuable," he said.

"It can make a big difference not only to your team's points difference in the league table but also to winning and losing a game. A real quality goalkicker can be worth his weight in gold."

TOMORROW'S match at home to Barrow pitches Danny Brough up against the long-time leader of the point and goal-scoring charts Tane Manihera, who now lies third in both tables.

The stand-off is not far behind Brough, having scored 57 goals and 137 points, so the outcome of tomorrow's game could make a difference to these scoring charts - though the difference to the National League Two table is obviously more crucial.

New player of year leader

THE Evening Press/Collier Plant Hire player of the year standings saw Mark Cain move up the charts as well as Danny Brough.

As said above, Brough went top with his three player-of-the-year points from the Gateshead game, while Cain, who just missed out on the top marks for his excellent 80-minute show, kept in touch with the leaders with two points to move level with the crocked Chris Smith in joint-fifth place.

The remaining point went to loan ranger Jonny Woodcock for his error-free hat-trick heroics, while for the umpteenth time this season, Alex Godfrey and the ever-reliable Rich Hayes were among those players who just missed out on adding to their tallies.

Latest standings: Danny Brough 16pts, Trevor Krause 15, Rich Hayes 13, Scott Rhodes 13, Mark Cain 12, Chris Smith 12, Lee Jackson 11, Neil Law 10, Paul Broadbent 8, Scott Fletcher 6, Graeme Hallas 6, Rob Kama 5, Alex Godfrey 4, Mick Ramsden 4, Darren Callaghan 3, Adam Thaler 3, Gareth Lloyd 3, Chris Beever 3, Craig Forsyth 1, Jonny Woodcock 1, David Bolus 1.

BELIEVE it or not, BBC Look North are still referring to the Knights as York Wasps.

This column has mentioned this fact several times this season, but it is getting beyond a joke - it is now 17 months since the Wasps were wound up.

Look North's results round-up on Monday morning apparently said the Wasps won at Gateshead last week. Coincidentally enough, the Wasps remain the last team to be beaten by Gateshead in a league match at the Thunderdome, way back in May 2001.

THE debut try off the bench for new Knights signing Carl Hughes against Gateshead last week followed on from a player of the tournament award he picked up recently with amateur club Stanley Rangers.

The young stand-off helped Rangers win the Wakefield and District League's M Lindop Memorial Sevens with a 24-20 success over Westgate Redoubt in the final.

Free buses to tomorrow's game are again being put on by the Knights in conjunction with First York.

Times and pick-up points are:

Thanet Road Baths (Edmund Wilson) 2pm, then Stonebow Job Centre 2.15pm;

Burton Stone Lane (Corner House) 2pm, then Lowther Street (shops) 2.15;

waiting at York Railway Station forecourt from 2pm to meet potential trains from Barrow, departing 2.20pm.

All return buses depart Huntington Stadium at 5pm.

Support shown for Nikau

KNIGHTS fans have the chance to send messages of goodwill to former York Wasps hero Tawera Nikau.

As reported by the Press, Nikau has had to have a leg amputated below the knee following a road accident in his native New Zealand.

Fans of all clubs, especially those he represented, are now getting together to show support for the player (pictured right in York kit), whose wife died in 2001 in tragic circumstances.

The Kiwi Test star - known as 'T' - made his name with York in 1990-91 before moving to Sheffield and, notably, Castle-ford. He later played for Cronulla and starred for Mel-bourne Storm when they won the Australian Grand Final before finishing his career with Warrington, who coincidentally play at Cas tomorrow.

Cas fan and former RL referee John Kendrew is collating cards, emails, letters and signatures to be sent out. He said: "We're wanting to give him a massive boost. I'm a Cas fan and 'T' was a good friend. I reffed him a few times and he was also a neighbour of mine.

"We're sure a lot of York fans will want to pass on goodwill."

Messages can be sent to Nikau via Kendrew on email to singingref@hotmail.com or by post to Tawera Nikau, c/o 37 Churchfield Lane, Glasshough-ton, Castleford, WF10 4DB.

Nikau's time at York can be summed up by the fact the electronic scoreboard at Huntington Stadium to this day still has the words "Man of the match - Tawera Nikau" jammed in its memory.

Incidentally, for all those who remember him from his time as a referee, John Kendrew is now a singer in clubland, hence his email address.

Minute's silence for Rob

THE Knights are to stage a minute's silence before tomorrow's game at home to Barrow in memory of former York Wasps and York Acorn player Rob Lee, who died last week. He was 24.

As reported by the Evening Press, Rob, who had been married just five months and was soon to become a father, died in a road accident not far from his home in Barlby. The funeral was held on Thursday at York Crematorium.

The former Hull Academy player had re-signed for boyhood amateur club Acorn in readiness for the forthcoming winter season. His brother, Andy, who also played for the Wasps last year, is also with the Blue and Golds.

Rob played in the three-quarters for Wasps ten times in the 2000 season, scoring four tries, and returned to Huntington Stadium last season, playing in nine of the Wasps' 13 games.

Messages of condolences have come in from many quarters, including several on the 'totalrl.com' message-board from rugby fans all over the country, while his club-mates at Acorn this week entered a special message in the deaths announcements in the Evening Press. It read:

"On the rugby field you had very few peers,

Off it you had many, many friends,

Long after we've shed our tears,

Our fond memories of you will never end.

So long Rob."

Acorn assistant-coach Paul Lumby said this week: "Rugby pales into insignificance at times like these."

Updated: 08:56 Saturday, August 09, 2003