Nuffield come on board to sponsor Knights under-20s

Nuffield Health will have their logo on the front of the U20s playing shirt as well as an advertising board at Huntington Stadium.

A statement from the club said the money received from the sponsorship will “go towards the running costs and resources needed to help develop the young players into first-grade standard”.

Resources include free supplements for the players, training kit, physiotherapy, team building exercises and detailed digital player analysis from each game.

Matthew Lamb, hospital director at Nuffield Health York Hospital, said “Nuffield Health York Hospital is delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor York City Knights U20s team and to forge greater links with the club as a whole.

“The hospital has a great reputation for treating sports injuries and by adding York City Knights to the teams we support we can further promote the hospital to those involved in sport across the city while at the same time helping young players to get a foothold in rugby league with a great club.

“I envisage this partnership will develop over the years and that Nuffield Health York Hospital’s name will become synonymous with sport across the whole region.”

Ross Potter, commercial manager at the Knights, said: “We are delighted to have formed this partnership with Nuffield Health York Hospital. It is the first step in what we hope to be a long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.”

Knights U20s individual player sponsorship is still available. For information, phone 01904 767404.

The team next play on Thursday night at home to last year’s U23s champions Featherstone – when coach James Ford will be hoping for a much-improved performance following the 34-20 defeat at Keighley last time out.

Ford accepted a fair proportion of blame for that loss, having “asked too much” of the players in the build-up, following the encouraging display against Super League club Salford in their Championship Reserves League opener.

York tries against Keighley came from Stephen Batty, Jack Pickles, Sam Roe and Ben Dent, with Adam Dent adding two goals, but, in trying to play too much at the wrong time, the Knights’ completion rates tumbled and they paid the price.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson said: “It’s not always about the win at this level, it’s about the performance, and this might not do them too much harm in the long-run. So far we’ve had good displays and there’s a danger of resting on your laurels, but this might give the lads renewed focus.”

FANS will have noted the Knights are to play Blackbrook in the Tetley’s Challenge Cup third round next month.

Wednesday’s draw was the first-ever to be broadcast via Twitter - and I’m still trying to work out if this is laudable innovation in the modern world or just plain silly, believing any major competition draw featuring professional clubs should be broadcast over the airwaves. Call me old-fashioned.

Still, it was probably a good thing in the end, as it was only an eagle-eyed tweeter who pointed out that the Rugby Football League’s initial draw sheet incorrectly included Wigan St Patrick’s at number 36, instead of West Hull. St Pat’s – who incidentally play York Acorn ARLC at Thanet Road in the National Conference League today – had been knocked out by Thatto Heath in round two.

THE Knights’ attempts to break a rugby league record by naming players with the same first name have so far fallen short.

York have had no fewer than five Jacks in their line-up recently – Briscoe, Latus, Lee, Aldous and Iley.

However, it couldn’t match Batley’s efforts in the 1990s, when they apparently fielded an entire pack called Mark – Speight, Scott, Spendler, Bownass, Cook and Cass.

Maybe trialist Jack Pickles will get a call-up.

Enjoy the Hall of Fame dinner, folks

THE Hall of Fame sportsman’s dinner in Bar 13 at Huntington Stadium tonight is sold out, with an extra table or two squeezed in for good measure.

As reported by this column in previous weeks, the first-ever inductees into the new York Rugby League Hall of Fame (or members of their family should they be no longer with us) have all been invited – though just who has won remains a secret, to be announced on the night.

There will also be a turn by former Great Britain star Keith Senior and an auction of sporting memorabilia, along with the usual top sportsman’s dinner fare.

To everyone who is going, have a great time.

• THE regular reader (readers?) of this column will recall there was mention last week of Danny Brough, the former Knights half-back, who, while an obvious crowd favourite in his time at York, is ineligible for the Hall of Fame as he wasn’t here long enough.

Anyway, it was good to see the 30-year-old respond to his controversial omission from the England train-on squad by giving a man-of-the-match performance at Headingley to help Huddersfield comprehensively beat champions Leeds.

As for England, I wouldn’t yet rule him out of World Cup inclusion come the end of the season.

Talking of the Giants, it’s good to see Chris Thorman, their new assistant-coach, doing so well following his difficult time as player-coach at Huntington Stadium last season.

Five wins, one defeat and top place in the table is a good response to those critics who questioned not only the appointment of rookie boss Paul Anderson but also Thorman as his number two.

• THINGS have also been going well recently for York’s very own Peter Fox, another of the former Knights who has forged a career in Super League.

The ex-England international winger has scored tries in each of Wakefield’s last five games prior to last night’s trip to St Helens.

• TALKING of ex-Knights, it seems York’s ongoing injury woes have even transmitted themselves to former players. Hali-fax’s Yorkie, Ross Divorty, is out for six weeks with a shoulder injury, and Batley forward Mark Applegarth has broken an arm. Crocked Dewsbury pair Ben Jones and Austin Buchanan aren’t expected back for another three weeks either.