DEAN Thomas has backed York City Knights to come out on top in tomorrow's battle royal at Dewsbury and go on to win LHF National League Two.

Gateshead coach Thomas, who hails from the Minster city, came close to masterminding an amazing defeat for his home-town team at Huntington Stadium last week when his Thunder side staged a remarkable comeback to draw level at 36-36, only for Gateshead graduate Paul Thorman to boot a late drop goal winner for the Knights.

He now reckons York can triumph in the top-of-the-table clash at Tetley's Stadium, even though the Rams were big winners over his side earlier this month.

"I think they're very equal teams," said Thomas of the top two. "Dewsbury have perhaps a bit more experience with a few players who have come down from Super League. But if York can get on top, there's a lot of enthusiasm and desire there and good go-forward, and they're difficult to stop.

"It's going to be tight and I'm looking forward to seeing the result. But if York take the game to Dewsbury I think they can win there, although Andy Kelly (Dewsbury coach) won't like me saying that.

"York have got what it takes to win the league - and I hope they get promoted directly because I would like to play Dewsbury in the play-offs Grand Final, though I imagine a lot of other teams will have something to say about that."

Thomas, who spent several seasons as a York Wasps player and has also been his home-town club's conditioner, Academy coach and, briefly in 2000, caretaker-coach, remains a "York supporter", albeit Gateshead boss first and foremost.

"I was desperately disappointed to lose (last weekend) but now I wish York all the best," he said. "I'm from York and, after Gateshead, I'm a York fan.

"I think York will go on to beat Dewsbury if they do the things they did when they were dominating us."

Under Thomas - who is also a coach with the fledgling West Indies RL set-up - Gateshead are enjoying by far their best season since reforming and, with several modest records already overtaken this term, are pushing for a play-off place for the first time.

And the former winger reckons they should be up there challenging. "We set our standards high," he explained.

"However shocking it may have been for the rugby league community, I would have expected us to beat York and we got ourselves in a position to win. We perhaps need to learn how to finish games off.

"But the surprise factor that we've got on our side is wearing off as people are more aware of what to expect from us."

Thomas, meanwhile, wants to keep the Knights' Neil Thorman on loan at Gateshead and praised York for allowing the youngster to play in last week's game.

"For the progression of rugby league, what York have done in allowing us to play Neil is fantastic," he explained.

"He's helped us to have cover at hooker and half-back. We haven't got the strength in depth that York have and this move is about giving him an opportunity while helping another club, which perhaps isn't in as good a financial position, to be able to perform better.

"Rugby league is a winner from that."

:: Patto and Thor move up

LEE Paterson probably thought he'd finally broken his duck when he came face to face with the whitewash in last week's game against Gateshead.

But three tacklers hauled him back and his chance was gone. Nevertheless, he had a superb game, especially in the first half when his breaks and handling helped glean the Knights their crucial lead, and, as man of the match, picks up three Evening Press/ Collier Plant Hire Player of the Year points.

Match-winner Paul Thorman was deemed York's second-best player, not least for his cool-as-a-cucumber late drop goal, and collects his long-overdue first points of the year, while Jim Elston picks up one point.

Latest standings: Sullivan 20pts, Blaymire 13, Levy 10, Smith 9, Fox 9, Sozi 9, Paterson 7, Kirke 7, Elston 7, Bates 6, Potter 5, Rhodes 5, Jackson 5, Law 5, Buckenham 5, Ross 3, Ramsden 2, Liddell 2, P Thorman 2, Cain 2, Friend 2, McDowell 2, Watson 2, Callaghan 1, Forsyth 1.

DON'T forget to email in your Player of the Month for July after tomorrow's game.

Votes should be sent to peter.martini@ ycp.co.uk and can also be posted to Sportsdesk, Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.

Everyone who sends in a vote will go into the hat for the chance to win two tickets to a Knights game and present the victorious player with his award. The deadline for entries is noon on Thursday.

Updated: 09:02 Saturday, July 30, 2005