10:20am Thursday 18th March 2010
By Peter Martini
MIKE MITCHELL and Alex Benson have paid the price for York City Knights’ defeat to Workington after being told to rediscover form in the reserves.
Both players have been named in the line-up for tonight’s reserves friendly at home to Dewbsury Rams (8pm) after being off colour at Derwent Park, especially in the costly first half.
They could yet win back their places for Sunday’s Championship One clash at home to unknown quantity South Wales Scorpions – especially with big prop Jon Fallon now a doubt after his old knee problem flared up again. But reserves boss and first-team assistant-coach Mick Ramsden says at least two places – one in the backs and one in the forwards – are up for grabs in the wake of last weekend’s 32-22 loss.
Benson, in particular, has strong challengers for his pack berth, with second-rows Chris Clough, a notable exclusion in Cumbria, and in-form youngster Luke Hardbottle pushing for recalls.
Those two will also play tonight in a reserves line-up which will also feature as substitute a young scrum-half from Ireland, Sean Carmody, a University of York student who has come on trial and has shown good skills in training.
Ramsden urged both Mitchell – the two-try hero in the opening day win over Leigh – and Benson to keep their heads up. “It’s up to the players to perform well,” he said.
“We think Mike needs a game in the reserves to build his confidence a bit. He himself wasn’t happy with his performance on Sunday, although he wasn’t the only one who didn’t perform – there were a lot of them, especially in the first half.
“Beno is similar to Mike. We didn’t think he performed that well and we thought it would do him good to have a run (tonight).
“We’ve got five props all playing reasonably well but on Sunday only two of them showed up – Nathan Freer and Brett Waller. Alex Benson has perhaps paid the price.”
Clough was left out on Sunday as Ramsden and caretaker-boss Chris Thorman decided to run with five props to counter Workington’s physical presence.
Ramsden said: “He will put himself around (tonight). There are places up for grabs on Sunday, at least one in both the backs and forwards.
“Chris has been a bit hot and cold recently, but we all know what he can do. Luke has been playing really well and has been patient. They are both fighting for places on Sunday. There are a lot of good players fighting for places.”
Two who will definitely not be involved on Sunday are Castleford dual-registration duo John Davies, who came off the bench in the Tigers’ win at Catalans on Saturday, and Jordan Thompson. Both are in Cas’ provisional party for their match at home to Wigan.
Meanwhile, Fallon, who missed much of pre-season with a knee problem only to be told it did not need surgery, is to see a specialist after the problem resurfaced.
A decision on whether he could play on Sunday was set to be made today, and, if not, the knock-on effect could be a reshuffle in tonight’s reserves line-up, with at least one forward withdrawn.
Knights reserves (probable): Wilson, Lineham, Duckworth, Mitchell, Stancliffe, Hampshire, Schofield, Benson, Helliwell, Falkingham, Clough, Hardbottle, Peacock. Subs: Barrow, Williams, Stearman, Dey, Reid, Smith, Coleman, Carmody.
• Sheffield coach Mark Aston has added to calls for the Rugby Football League to change its ticketing policy for Challenge Cup fourth round ties.
The Press reported the Knights’ home tie against Crusaders would not be a financial boon for York, as Super League clubs’ season ticket holders get in free for their team’s first tie each season.
Aston, whose side host Wigan, said: “Our own fans have to pay and anything we make has to be split with Wigan. It needs reviewing by the RFL because it really doesn’t help clubs like ours.”
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