Bully boys

9:00am Friday 27th June 2008

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PAUL MARCH wants his York City Knights side to bully the bullies tomorrow to gain revenge for lost points.

The Knights visit bottom club London Skolars in National League Two with memories of a disappointing draw in the reverse fixture a month ago still fresh in the mind.

And to make sure his play-off hopefuls do not slip up again, player-boss March has increased the raw power in his side by moving captain Dave Buckley, normally a prop, to loose-forward while bringing big centre Steve Lewis back into the starting line-up.

Hefty prop Scott Woodcock, now recovered from his shoulder injury, is also included in the 19-man squad, although he is only on stand-by in case Mark Applegarth is deemed unfit.

March said: “We went into that game (at home to Skolars) on the back of two good wins and I think we were over-confident and thought it might be easier than it was.

“They came with a game-plan and they bullied us. They got on top of us and put us off our game.

“This time round, we’re going into it on the back of two good wins and a narrow defeat to the league leaders, but we can’t be over-confident.

“Our aim is for our forwards to get on top of their forwards. If we do that, our backs can score some more good tries.

“But London have got some dangermen and we need to keep them quiet as much as we can.”

Buckley will again wear 13 in the absence of David March following the latter’s hospital scare last week, while Lewis, who has not played since suffering a dead leg in the defeat at Rochdale four weeks ago, replaces Steve Grundy at centre, though the latter keeps his place in the 17.

Apple-garth will be given until tomorrow morning to decide if he is fit to play. The forward has a blood clot behind his left ear which causes head pains whenever he runs, although it is unlikely to cause any further damage.

Stand-off Danny Grice is also still available – unlike as previously thought – as his BARLA tour duty does not begin until next week.

March said: “With Bucko going to loose-forward it means we effectively have three front-rowers on the field. We want to dominate the middle of the park.

“He’s a different player to our Dave (David March) but he knows his game, he knows the game-plan and he will give 100 per cent. He’s played there before and I’m sure he’ll do well.

“Steve Grundy had two good games at centre but I felt he let himself down a bit defensively (against Barrow). He did well with ball in hand but defence wins games. Steve Lewis is chomping at the bit to come back and he will get a start.

“Grundy is a bit unfortunate to be dropped from the line-up but he will still keep his place in the 17.”

March added: “Scott will come in if Mark doesn’t play. He’s been out for a few weeks but he’s been training hard and you can see the difference. I believe he’s professional enough to do a job if called upon, and Mark is professional enough to say whether he’s right to play.”

Young Sam Blaney travels as 19th man.

Skolars will have to make at least one change as former Knight Jermaine Coleman, pictured, is out for the season after undergoing cruciate ligament surgery having damaged his knee in their defeat to Oldham last week. Jamie Nolan is likely to come into the 17 if he passes a late test on a finger injury.

Skolars coach Tony Benson said: “I think we should have won at York and we were pretty upset we didn’t. We have improved since then and we’re really up for a good performance.”

London Skolars: from Brown, Simms, Davui, Shears, Aggrey, Gibbons, Thorman, Louw, Honor, Rasaubale, Thomas, Miller, Barker, Chan, Kerr, Jonker, Nolan.

Knights (probable): Ratcliffe, Mapals, Spicer, Lewis, Oakes, Grice, P march, Sullivan, Hughes, Applegarth, Divorty, Kelly, Buckley. Subs: Hodgson, Ekis, Grundy, Bailey. Stand-by: Woodcock, Blaney.

Referee: Matthew Kidd (Warrington) Kick off: 3pm