by Peter Martini

FORMER York Wasps fans' favourite Steve Hill has extended his contract with Batley Bulldogs and will remain at Mount Pleasant for another year.

There were hopes among the supporters of the new York City Knights club that the prop forward would return to his home-town outfit for the 2003 season, especially after Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said he was aiming to bring in more local-based talent following the signing of former Wasps half-back Mark Cain from Hull Kingston Rovers.

But Hill confirmed to the Evening Press today that he is to stay at Batley, who reached the semi-finals of the Northern Ford Premiership Play-offs before being knocked out by Leigh Centurions.

The 25-year-old said there had been no approach from the Knights but that in any case he agreed to sign for Batley some weeks ago.

"With us having such a good run in the play-offs, the club approached me and asked me to sign again and I was happy to do so," he said. "We got to the semi-finals and hopefully next year we can go a stage further."

Meanwhile, the Knights' hopes of signing Hull KR's York-based flyer Alex Godfrey could have taken a blow with the news that Rovers have already lost Bob Everitt.

The departure of the full-back could mean that Rovers would be desperate to persuade Godfrey to stay at Craven Park, who has also starred in the number one shirt for the club.

Both Godfrey and another target, Richie Hayes, also of Hull KR, have confirmed they have had offers from York but have said they would listen to Rovers before making a decision.

Updated: 11:32 Saturday, October 19, 2002