So close but so far for York City Knights - 2014 season review

IF the Kingstone Press Championships awards night in Manchester didn't offer a fitting precis of York City Knights' 2014 season, then a tweet from York sports fan Joe Smith did.

As details of York's clean sweep of Championship One gongs at Tuesday's glittering ceremony were broadcast on social media, it was suggested that the quadruple success - Coach of the Year (Gary Thornton), Player of the Year (Jack Lee) and two joint Young Players of the Year (Ben Reynolds and James Saltonstall) - summed up the club's campaign.

But Smith quickly tweeted an appropriate addendum. "It will if Hunslet or Oldham nick the trophies on the way out."

Those four awards capped a season in which the Knights won the Championship One title by a clear five points, having triumphed in 17 of their 20 league matches. The 85 per cent success rate is the club's best-ever since re-forming in 2003 and no doubt one of the best in York's all-time annals. The Knights also filled seven of the 13 spaces in the Team of the Year - thought to be a record.

However, it's Hunslet and Oldham - the clubs who finished second-best and third-best in the table - who will be contesting tomorrow's Grand Final.

It's Hunslet and Oldham, not champions York, who will be vying for promotion.

It's Hunslet or Oldham, not title-winners York, who will end up with the biggest prize - a place in the restructured, financially-boosted Championship.

The Knights had of course beaten arch-rivals Hunslet three times in the regular season, and they had the upper hand over Oldham, avenging a 31-30 away loss with a 54-12 home win. However, on the two most significant occasions, the two play-off semi-finals, the two one-off matches, it was the Hawks and the Roughyeds who won out.

The biggest irony on Tuesday night was summed up when boss Gary Thornton collected his personal award and was interviewed on stage.

"This is a first - an unemployed Coach of the Year," he quipped.

Thornton had, of course, been told a day earlier that his contract would not be renewed - a decision which followed the team's exit from the play-offs.

It was met with heavy criticism from supporters. He is, after all, only the third coach in York RL's entire history to win a league, after Bill Kirkbride in 1981 (the old Division Two) and Mick Cook in 2005 (the old National League Two).

However, from another perspective, the decision to axe Thornton - by not offering another contract following the end of his two-year deal - can be explained, and has indeed been accepted, if ruefully, by the ever-dignified departing head coach himself.

Firstly, Thornton's objective had been to lead the club to promotion following last year's relegation on his watch, and he didn't succeed, even if he did do everything but.

And it does need bearing in mind that this year's nine-team Championship One, featuring six minnow expansion clubs, was nothing like the bigger, harder 1981 and 2005 competitions and was always going to be a three-horse race - yet it is the other two who have reached the final fence.

Perhaps more significantly, staying in Championship One means considerably less money and, as such, the club had to make cuts in the coaching team, with the highest paid the one to make way.

In Thornton's stead - as confirmed today - comes his player/assistant-coach, James Ford, who is credited with bringing through several youngsters from the under-18s, U20s and reserves, whom he used to coach, and who has also already had an influence behind the scenes this year.

He has also now hung up his boots to focus fully on coaching, and, with the club financially forced to remain reliant on youth given they miss out on Championship central funding, it is he who has been entrusted with turning them into promotion winners.

It is hardly the first time the austere Knights have chosen to put faith in a rookie coach.

IT is, of course, cruel that the Championship One winners, for this one year only, do no go up automatically.

Nevertheless, with the league restructure long in the making, it was known before the season started that only the Grand Final winners would ascend.

Finishing top did give them an advantage in the play-offs - home ties, a quick route to the Grand Final and a second bite of the cherry if required. But, come the semi-finals, that advantage didn't prove much of a reward for York's superb - record-breaking - exploits throughout the year.

Should the club have approached the season differently, therefore? It was always going to boil down not to who finished top but who performed best in the play-offs.

York hit their straps in mid-season and continued it through to the end of the regular campaign, banking on riding that wave through to the Grand Final. They also argued that much of their training was geared towards hitting their peak come September.

But they had a young team - with an average age of 22 come the semi-finals - and one thing teams do need in big one-off games is big experience.

Hunslet, for their part, had the likes of David March in their ranks - is there another player in this division with such knowhow? - and they saved enough money in the budget to recruit another quality Super League veteran, prop Richard Moore, late in the season.

But the Knights had only Lee Paterson over the age of 25 in their 17. The luckless Jason Golden had succumbed again to injury early in the year. Veteran prop Iain Morrison, who so easily could have been a talismanic figure smashing into people in centre-field, played only five games, the last in June. Ford was unfit for the final outing. Jonny Presley had not been picked for so long given the form in the halves of Championship One Player of the Year contenders Ben Reynolds and Pat Smith that he was not going to be brought back for the play-offs.

Uncertainty of Thornton's future probably did not help either, chairman John Guildford having long said it would only be sorted at the end of term when their fate was known, while York also had misfortune with the fixture list which meant they played only two competitive fixtures in five weeks prior to the play-offs - hardly the best preparation when you need to be at your match-fittest and match-sharpest.

SO where did it all go right... and then wrong.

This year, more than any other year, it was about how teams finished the season, not started it, or even how they middled it.

Thornton's men began well enough as a solid if uninspiring victory over Gloucestershire All Golds was followed by victory over Hunslet - the first time the Knights had won a league match away from home in 33 months and the first time they had beaten their arch-rivals in five years.

Then came a shock defeat of ex-boss Dave Woods' Whitehaven outfit in the Challenge Cup and, without even playing all that excellently, the biggest victory of the year - a 76-0 trouncing of poor South Wales.

The first loss of the season, at Swinton in the cup, when they unluckily just failed to topple a second Championship side, was followed by the lowest point of the league campaign - their only home loss of the regular season, to minnows Oxford.

Three steady but uneasy victories later came the loss at Oldham, when they memorably fought back from 27-0 down to take an unlikely lead, only to lose 31-30 to a controversial late try.

Next up was Hunslet at home and what a response - a thrilling, comprehensive 40-0 win which had fans licking their lips.

That confidence was dented just one week later with defeat at Gloucestershire, Austin Bell sent off.

But the next response was even more telling - a response of champions.

They saw off a dangerous Gateshead side bolstered by Hull KR dual-reg aces 42-16 to set off on what was to become a Knights record winning run.

Club historians Stuart Evans and Ron Smith have trawled the annals of club stats to find the all-time York record is a mammoth 19 matches on the trot, set between September 8, 1900 and January 26, 1901, in the then Yorkshire Second Competition Eastern division, before being ended by Normanton. The next best run was 13 in both 1933, in the Northern Rugby League, and 1973, in the Northern Rugby League division two. (The former was ended by defeat to touring Australians.)

Nevertheless, ten consecutive games is still a modern-day best. Thornton's men averaged 41 points per match over those games - despite spending so much time on the bus with four consecutive trips to South Wales, Hemel, London Skolars and Oxford.

The tries flowed in particular for Ben Dent - one of those players brought on by Ford - who ended the year as top try-scorer with 20 in 23 appearances of his maiden season as a fully-fledged first-teamer.

Likewise they came thick and fast for skipper Jack Lee, who set a York all-time record by scoring tries in ten consecutive matches - a run which ironically ended when it was announced he would be leaving post-season to join dastardly promotion rivals Hunslet.

The regular campaign, even so, ended with a memorable 20-18 comeback win away to the Hawks - to not only complete a hat-trick against the old foes but also virtually seal the title success - followed, last up, by victory over Skolars.

That latter game saw the league trophy presented and champagne corks pop, albeit in low-key celebrations given the biggest prize was still to be played for.

However, the performance that day, three weeks after the Hunslet game, was patchy, and that rustiness was still in evidence when the play-offs began at home to a rejuvenated Oldham two weeks later, not helped by a controversial refereeing display.

The display in the elimination semi-final against Hunslet was better, and quicker, but the tie remained nip and tuck throughout.

York still went 12-0 up at half-time, albeit against the run of play, and forged 18-10 ahead when Lee - of all people - scored a try which should really have signalled his present club's progress and his future club's demise.

However, just when the Knights needed an old head to guide them through the last 15 minutes, a few experienced players to see the game out, wrong decisions were taken, tension set in, mistakes were strewn, and Hunslet took advantage.

Thornton, along with players Pat Smith, Reynolds, Saltonstall and Lee, all still had the Championships' pre-Grand Final awards night to attend - but the season was over.

How Knights’ champs performed in 2014

Jack Aldous 9/10 (rating)
Played 21+1 (as sub) Tries 5
Players’ Player of the Year and again Press Player of the Year, the prop is just a Duracell-powered pocket battleship workaholic.

Ryan Backhouse 7/10 P5+10 T3
After gaining fitness following aborted move to Australia, he became a back-row regular, doing much of his skilful best work off the bench.

Austin Bell 7/10 P6+5 T1
Prop missed eight games in the summer due to injury after beginning the year looking bigger, more robust and in better form than in his debut year at York.

Brad Brennan 7/10 P7+6
Prop made a big impression after arriving on loan from Batley, though tailed off a little towards the end.

Kriss Brining 6/10 P0+13 T2
Young hooker is still learning game management and his time on the pitch was limited by Jack Lee’s form and influence, but his individual ability, not least a tackling technique which crunches bigger men, makes him a force to be reckoned with.

Harry Carter 5/10 P0+6 T1
Club have high hopes for this youngster and, with Jack Lee departed, he may get more opportunities next year.

Tyler Craig 6/10 P7+2 T3
Another year of learning for the former Heworth junior. Talented but needs to find consistency.

Ben Crane P1+2
Forward wasn’t happy with the opportunities he got so left.

Brad Day P3+1 T5
Excellent on arrival but dual-reg stint didn’t last.

Adam Dent P2 T2
Young threequarter hoping to follow brother Ben’s footsteps into the first team.

Ben Dent 9/10 P23 T20
What a maiden season as a fully-fledged first-teamer! Top try-scorer, including some devastating finishes and the club’s Try of the Season solo effort down in Oxford, and a place on the wing in the Championship One Team of the Year.

George Elliott 4/10 P6 T2
Began the season as first-choice winger but for fell out of boss Gary Thornton’s favour, his last game coming in April.

Dan Fleming P1
One appearance on dual-reg was in home defeat to Oxford.

James Ford 6/10 P13+1 T6
In and out due to injuries again and had a bigger influence on the coaching side. Now retires as a player and takes over as head coach.

Nathan Freer 4/10 P1+6
Prop was steady early doors before season was ended by injury.

Jason Golden 4/10 P3+2 T1
Injury jinx struck again to curtail another campaign for the popular but luckless back-rower.

Benn Hardcastle 6/10 P9+1 T4 G34
Started the season as first-choice half-back and goalkicker but, without doing too much wrong, lost his place to the impressive Smith-Reynolds axis and couldn’t get it back. Is returning to former club Gateshead, where he also enjoyed a good loan spell this summer.

Luke Hardcastle P2
The full-back did not reproduce his Gateshead form in two poor displays and left the club before summer set in.

Nathan Harper P0+4
Jury still out.

James Haynes 8/10 P17 T5 G10
Kicked the match-winning points at Hunslet that all but sealed the title, to cap an excellent first full season back after his injury nightmare, rediscovering much of his old punch at full-back.

Jack Iley P0+2 T1
Luckless back-rower was plagued by injuries.

Jake Joynt 5/10 P3+4 T1
Started the season well enough up front but left after work commitments got in the way.

Jay Leary P1+2
Jury out.

Jack Lee 9/10 P24 T19
Championship One Player of the Year, The Press Player of the Year contender, York’s only ever-present, skipper, second-top try-scorer and York all-time record-breaker thanks to scoring in ten consecutive matches this year. The hooker’s formed dipped after his post-season move to arch-rivals Hunslet was made public in August - just when York needed him at his peak for the play-offs - but he will be a big loss after five seasons at York.

Ryan Mallinder 8/10 P16+4 T7
Former amateur, alongside Ed Smith, formed arguably the most consistent back row in the division, even if neither made the league’s Team of the Year.

Greg Minikin 7/10 P12 T4
Stop-start season due to injury but this young centre possesses so much potential he is destined surely to go up the leagues, even if York don’t, should he continues on his present trajectory.

James Morland 6/10 P8 T4
Youngster left the club in late summer after his first-team opportunities dried up, which was a big shame as he showed considerable potential having risen through the U18s and U20s. Will hopefully return to restart where he left off.

Iain Morrison 5/10 P0+5
Veteran former Widnes and Featherstone prop smashed his way around the field on five substitute appearances but injuries and illness meant he wasn’t seen nearly enough.

Josh Nathaniel P1
One appearance was in home defeat to Oxford.

Lee Paterson 7/10 P15+3 T4
Loose-forward began the year back at home-town club like a house on fire but, after injury in mid-season, couldn’t reach such hotness at the business end of the season. Has still won a recall to the Scotland squad at age of 33.

Joe Pickets P6+3 T2
Big hitting back-rower caused his usual menace after returning from rugby union and was missed after leaving for Australia.

Jack Pickles P2
Season hit by injury.

Jonny Presley 7/10 P11 T 9
Started the season at half-back but, like Benn Hardcastle, became sidelined by the form of the Smith-Reynolds axis. Still showed an eye for the try-line and some argue his experience could have been important in the play-offs - especially as he’d played in all three league wins over Hunslet.

Ben Reynolds 9/10 P16 T7 G71
Championship One joint Young Player of the Year and shortlisted for Player of the Year too. Dual-reg Castleford full-back-cum-half-back was virtually in tears after York’s play-off exit, suggesting he didn’t use his time here merely as a stepping stone.

Colton Roche 8/10 P10+3 T4
Excellent acquisition from Sheffield ended the year in Championship One Team of the Year and deservedly so. Forward crashed through for superb try at Hunslet which effectively secured the league title. Would be big boon for club if he stayed for 2015.

James Saltonstall 9/10 P18 T9
On loan Warrington winger and Italy international was named joint Championship One Young Player of the Year with Ben Reynolds after adding try-scoring form to his workaholic tendencies.

Ed Smith 8/10 P23 T8
Best season yet for the home-grown second-row who is still only 21, as evidence by his Most Improved Player of the Year accolade.

Pat Smith 9/10 P20+3 T10
Pacy, busy, popular little playmaker’s partnership with Ben Reynolds at half-back caught the eye of so many rival coaches that both players were shortlisted for Championship One Player of the Year. Also voted the fans’ Player of the Year, summing up his splendid first season at home-town club after his arrival from Sheffield.

Josh Tonks 6/10 P1+4 T1
Decent late-season acquisition.

Jake Webster P1
Castleford star played one game on dual-reg as he came back from injury but he played it well - helping York win at Hunslet (the club’s first away win in 33 months and first victory over the Hawks since 2009) and continued to send words of encouragement through the season. A far cry from the attitude of some of Hull’s dual-reg contingent in 2013.