PAT SMITH says he is enjoying his club rugby league better than ever at present - helped by some brotherly love.

The 24-year-old enjoyed success with double Championship champions Sheffield but missed out on a lot of the Eagles’ big games having been in and out of the team and behind in the pecking order the likes of Dom Brambani, Pat Walker and, previously, a certain ex-Knight, Simon Brown.

At home-town club York, though, he has been “rotated” out of the side only once so far this term - the 76-0 romp against South Wales - and, not only that, but little (well, younger) brother Ed has played every game with him.

Said Smith the elder: “Playing for York and playing alongside my brother is special.

“After the years I had at Sheffield and not getting the shot I maybe deserved, being in and out of the team, I’m just happy to be in there doing my bit helping the team.

“I’m enjoying my rugby league and I think people can see that.

“Also, playing alongside a few players I came through the ranks at Hull with, like Jack Aldous - there are so many things contributing to me enjoying my rugby.

“When I toured with Great Britain Students and when I played for Ireland - those occasions were very special. But in terms of club rugby, this is definitely the most I’ve been enjoying it.”

Talking of Ireland, Smith would love to don the green jersey again, and if he could do so alongside Ed, then that would be even better. They qualify as their mum’s dad hails from County Clare.

“I would love another chance at having a go,” he said. “It’d be another chance to measure yourself at a different standard.”

Smith last played for the Wolfhounds against England Knights (effectively England’s ‘A’ team) in 2012, after debuting in the European Cup in 2011.

He didn’t make the cut for last autumn’s World Cup, however, when a couple more Australia-based ex-pats were in the reckoning. His Great Britain Students exploits came in 2011 when they went to Bali and Australia.

He added: “Ed is one of the best back-rowers in our competition from what i can see. If we can both play for Ireland, that would be really special, not just for me and Ed but our family as well.”


ONE question we had to put to Smith the elder this week concerned the battle for roles in the pivotal positions.

Smith has played at half-back and hooker this term but competition for places in both berths is pretty stiff.

Jonny Presley and Benn Hardcastle are fighting for the six and seven shirts, while Harry Carter’s recent return from injury means captain Jack Lee has a natural replacement.

When Kriss Brining returns from injury, he’ll be another to add into the mix.

As for his favourite position, Smith simply said: “If it’s at hooker that’s great, if it’s at half-back that’s great - whatever I can to help the team.”

He was likewise very diplomatic when asked whom he thought formed the best half-back combination.

“Me and Prez clicked well on Sunday (in the win over Hunslet) but we’ve also both played well with Benn,” he said, happily sitting on the fence.

“We all bring something a bit different. Benn’s possibly the most skilful of the three of us. Jonny is the best support player and probably the best runner. I’m half-way in between I guess.

“You just get different things from different half-backs and it’s up to the coaches to decide what they think it most appropriate for each game.”
 

MANY at the Knights might have wanted there to be game tomorrow to continue on the crest of the Hunslet win wave - but the blank weekend has probably come at a good time for Smith.

The half-back is studying a Masters in management studies at Leeds University and has exams next week, so the fact there is no match means he can spend a bit more time revising.

He’s obviously brainier than he looks. (Only joking.)


GIVEN this is a blank weekend, we’ve extended the deadline for Knights Player of the Month votes to noon on Wednesday.

The May award covers the wins over London Skolars, Hemel Stags and Hunslet and the loss at Oldham.

To vote, follow the link on the Knights match reports on The Press’s website, thepress.co.uk/ knights, or email peter.martini@ thepress.co.uk Each Player of the Month winner, as voted for by readers of The Press, gets three bonus points added to his The Press Player of the Year tally. The awards are presented pitch-side at the next Huntington Stadium match. The Player of the Year tallies will be updated next week.


THERE have been a couple of minor changes to York fixtures in the forthcoming weeks.

The Knights’ game away to South Wales Scorpions on Saturday, June 21, at Maesteg RFC, will now kick off at 2.30pm to avoid a clash with a Wales rugby union game, while the match at Oxford on July 13 will now be played at the Dry Leas ground, not their usual Iffley Road home, kick off 3pm. Dry Leas is the home of rugby union club Henley.

The away match at London Skolars on Sunday, July 6, has already been switched to the home of Enfield Town Football Club, as the Skolars’ New River Stadium pitch is to be re-surfaced.

Meanwhile, former Scorpions captain Neil Dallimore, 33, is back with the club after re-signing for the rest of 2014. Dallimore has also played Premiership rugby union with Newport, Caerphilly and Bedwas.


KNIGHTS supporters will be running a coach to Cheltenham for the game against Gloucestershire All Golds a week tomorrow. It departs Huntington Stadium at 8am that morning. The cost for a seat is £40. Phone 07443 564453 to book.


Trio in division’s try-scoring charts top seven

THE Knights now have three players in the top seven in the try-scoring charts in Championship One - and they seemed to be having their own little battle against Hunslet last week.

Jack Lee joined Jonny Presley and Ben Dent on six try for the league campaign following his hat-trick at Oldham, and he went top of the club tree with his 19th-minute effort against the Hawks.

But Presley quickly responded, with a superb support try on the back of Pat Smith’s zipping run.

And Dent, not to be left behind, also then reached seven heaven with a splendid finish along the left touchline, gobbling up his one and only chance of the game.

Nevertheless, hooker Lee was to go top again with his second try six minutes from time with yet another trademark effort straight from dummy-half.

Lee, with eight, is now fourth in the league’s try-scoring charts, with Presley and Dent joint fifth with Hunslet’s Andy Ballard.

Gateshead skipper Jason Payne and Oxford star man Sean Morris are joint top on ten, with Oldham’s Dale Bloomfield on nine.


TALKING of last week’s win, Oldham were reasonably amusing on Twitter while looking on from afar.

Each time the Knights’ official account tweeted that York had kicked a goal, Oldham’s official account ‘favourited’ it.

(At least that suggests they recognise York deserved to win at their place but for those missed conversions.)


WE won’t take credit for it, but this column perhaps put the mockers on Hunslet last week.

We wrote that the Hawks went into their game at York with the second longest winning run in pro rugby league, behind only runaway Championship leaders Leigh. Obviously we only wrote that to tempt fate.

We also pointed out that their talismanic veteran former Knight, David March, had the longest run of consecutive appearances among Championship One players, with 34.

We weren’t to know he’d then pull a hamstring in training before the game.


GIVEN this is a blank weekend, we’ve extended the deadline for Knights Player of the Month votes to noon on Wednesday.

The May award takes in the wins over London Skolars, Hemel Stags and Hunslet and the narrow loss at Oldham.

To vote, follow the links online, or email peter.martini@ thepress.co.uk Each Player of the Month winner, as voted for by readers of The Press, gets three bonus points added to his The Press Player of the Year tally.

The awards are presented pitch-side at the next Huntington Stadium match. The Player of the Year tallies will be updated next week.