NO first-teamers have been punished for the defeat to Toulouse by being relegated to the reserves tonight – but head coach Dave Woods admitted he felt a strong temptation to make a point.

The Knights crashed 46-32 to the French strugglers on Saturday having been struck by complacency following recent good form, and Woods said in the aftermath that players were due a “flogging” this week.

However, league rules mean clubs can only field three players aged 23 and above in any Reserve Championship game so, with a few over-age players already in the reserve ranks, his options to give more a run-out were already restricted.

He has also been encouraged by their response in training so only Ed Smith is demoted to the side that hosts Dewsbury reserves tonight, although even this cannot be seen as punishment given the teenager had little game-time as a substitute against Toulouse.

“We thought about putting a couple in there but we’ve already got one too many (over-age players) in the provisional squad,” said Woods.

“A few of them have said they felt confident at half-time (against Toulouse) and thought we would win easily but things didn’t go to plan, didn’t go our way, and we couldn’t get back into it. When you’re caught thinking you’ll win easily and you’re not really concentrating, it’s hard then to get going again.

“They were honest about it. A few stuck their hands up and apologised about their performances, and they’ve said they’d make up for it next week.

“That’s encouraging, but now we’ve got to make sure we do the right things.”

Added Woods: “We trained pretty hard on Tuesday. We’ve done a lot of good work over the last five or six weeks so one bad performance shouldn’t be allowed to ruin all that.”

The Press man-of-the-match Duane Straugheir was given the all-clear to resume training after an eye injury treated at hospital after Saturday’s game.

Ryan Esders has a back injury and Ben Jones is still struggling with his sternum problem, but both are expected to be ready for the trip to Halifax a week on Sunday, York’s next first-team game.

Wales forward Matt Barron could also be in contention that day as he continues his comeback from injury with another run-out for the reserves at Huntington Stadium tonight (8pm).

Reserves boss Mick Ramsden also welcomes back former New Earswick ARLC pack star Joe Hemmings and ex-York Acorn prop Davey Burns.

Under-18s outside-back Luke Tomlinson, a product of Skirlaugh ARLC in Hull, will make his reserve-grade debut, as will Castleford-based Scott Wilson.

Entry tonight is free for Knights season ticket holders and vice-presidents, otherwise £4 for adults and £1 for under-16s.

Knights reserves: from Dent, Winstanley, Mole, Tomlinson, Waterman, E Smith, Holmes, Gray, Brining, Stearman, Burns, Mitchell, G Smith, Hyde, Barron, Hemmings, S Wilson.