Happiness is key for Knights ‘All Star’ Mark Applegarth (From York Press)

Happiness is key for Knights ‘All Star’ Mark Applegarth

11:01am Saturday 5th September 2009 in

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MARK APPLEGARTH has put his improved displays this year down to enjoying his rugby league again – and also to his colleagues at the front of the pack.

The in-form prop spoke in The Press on Thursday about how he was pleased to re-sign for next season after a much happier campaign on and off the pitch.

He also admitted not having the most consistent of debut seasons with the club after joining from Super League outfit Wakefield – although such admissions were possibly borne of a strict self-critical mind as much as particularly poor performances.

There is little doubt this year has seen a big step up in consistency, though, and, while the 24-year-old has now been named in the Rugby League World magazine’s team of the month for August – along with hooker Paul Hughes – The Press also understands he is a sure-fire contender for the official Co-operative Championship One ‘All-Stars’ team of the season, which is revealed next week.

“I wasn’t enjoying it last year and it started to get embarrassing at the end,” he told The Press. “This year there’s been a big turnaround for me.”

That analysis seems a little harsh. He began that debut season on fire, being named player of the month for February as voted for by Press readers and, although his form did indeed dip mid-summer, he ended the season back on song.

This year, though, has been full of good quality all the way through – playing a big part in his being the only ever-present at York this term, as well as his ‘All-Stars’ potential.

He explained ahead of today’s crucial game with Swinton: “I feel that first year I sat it out and never really played my rugby. But I had a bit of a break and once I came back I thought, if I am going to play, I owe them a decent season. I would like to think I’ve repaid them a bit. I’m getting more towards how I expected to be.”

So much so he was not only offered a new deal for 2010, but was also voted player of the month for June this year, and is currently the joint-leader of the K Walker & Co/Press Player of the Year standings, alongside fellow prop Adam Sullivan. That’s in addition to his Championship One accolades.

Applegarth began the season as a replacement prop, generally coming on to make an impact midway through the first half, but since mid-April has been mainly used from the start.

He said: “In the first half of the year Paul March (then head coach) was keen for me to make an impact off the bench, and when I began to start games I just tried to do the same.

“I like to start games – every player would – but, at prop, you tend to play equal game-time anyway, and lately Sully and Luke Ambler have been doing a tremendous job off the bench.

“You work as a unit, all four of you. It’s usually down to all four of you to get that go-forward.”

That fab four of recent weeks, in the wake of Danny Ekis and Scott Woodcock’s switch to Hunslet, have been Applegarth, Sullivan, Leeds loanee Ambler and Sean Hesketh.

And between them they have won the last three player of the month gongs, with Applegarth’s award being sandwiched by Sullivan’s victory in May and Hesketh’s in July.

As for Hesketh, whose arrival from Featherstone in June not only brought new force up front but also freed Jordan Ross and Chris Clough to blast about in the second row, Applegarth said: “I played with ‘Paddy’ at Wakefield in the junior academy.

“He’s always been the same. He’s a strong lad and can put a very good hit on. He’s a funny guy as well so has brought that to training. He’s had a massive impact and has definitely added a bit more grunt.”

He added: “I’m not sure why he’s called Paddy though – that’s just how I’ve always known him.” Answers on a postcard.

NOTWITHSTANDING what’s written above, the pack has lost its grip on The Press player of the month gong.

Following successive victories for props Adam Sullivan, Mark Applegarth and Sean Hesketh, the award has returned to the back division, with Danny Ratcliffe topping our readers’ poll for August and picking up his first monthly gong since arriving at Huntington Stadium ahead of the 2008 season.

The full-back – pipped to the Co-operative ‘full-back of the month’ award by Dewsbury’s former Knight, Lee Lingard – beat new scrum-half Gareth Moore to the Press-sponsored accolade after a wholly consistent month in which he helped the Knights win all three matches, scoring two tries and a conversion to boot.

Ratcliffe will be presented with his player of the month award ahead of today’s last home game of the regular season, against Swinton (kick off 6pm). He also gets three bonus points to add to his player of the year tally.

The Press/K Walker & Co Player of the Year standings: Sullivan 17pts, Applegarth 17, D March 16, P March 16, Oakes 14, Hesketh 12, Ratcliffe 11, Hughes 10, Clough 9, Haberecht 8, A Mitchell 5, Grimshaw 4, Kelly 4, Ekis 3, Knight 3, Ross 3, Moore 3, Wildbore 3, Lewis 2, Woodcock 1, M Mitchell 1, Clayton 1, Barrow 1, Schofield 1, Ambler 1.

AS reported by The Press on Thursday, Mark Applegarth is in line to become only the sixth Knights player to be an ever-present all season.

The other five? Anyone wanting to think back and work it out for themselves should look away now.

For anyone else who is also interested, those five to previously make that mark are Trevor Krause (2003), Rich Hayes (2003), Danny Brough (2004), Jonny Liddell (2006) and John Oakes (2008).

A number of players have just missed out by the odd game or two, notably Aussie Dave Buckley, who missed only four games in his three years with the club.

They are Chris Langley (2004, 2 games missed), Scott Rhodes (2004, 2), Yusuf Sozi (2004, 2), Peter Fox (2005, 1) Yusuf Sozi (2005, 2), Adam Sullivan (2005, 1), Jim Elston (2005, 2), Dave Buckley (2006, 2), Lee Mapals (2007, 1), Jamaine Wray (2007, 2), Dave Buckley (2007, 1), Jon Liddell (2007, 1), Danny Ratcliffe (2008, 1), Dave Buckley (2008, 1) and Ross Divorty (2008, 1). They might be added to this year by John Oakes (1 game missed so far), Paul Hughes (1) and Adam Sullivan (1).

HERE’S another one for stat fans. Warrington’s Michael Monaghan became only the second hooker to ever win the Lance Todd Trophy for being man of the match in Challenge Cup final, after his Wolves side beat Huddersfield at Wembley last week.

The other was the late, great former York coach and manager Tommy Harris, who won it playing for Hull in the 1960 final.

THE Supporters Club will hold their annual presentation awards evening on Saturday, September 26, at Bar 13, Huntington Stadium.

It will start at 8pm, with the presentation of awards to first team and reserve team players by guest presenter Garry Schofield, the former Great Britain legend and father of young Knights half-back Jonathan, starting at 8.45pm. The presentations will be followed by a buffet supper and dancing till late.

Tickets cost £10 and are limited to the first 80 people. To book, see any committee member or call 07958 569266 leaving your details and a contact number.

THE Supporters’ Club last fundraising event of 2009 will be the Super League Grand Final and Race Night, at the Huntington Sports Club, on October 10, starting at 6pm.

The Grand Final will be shown on screen ahead of the race night. Tickets for this event cost £5 to include a chicken and chips supper, karaoke and late bar.

To buy a ticket, see any committee member, call 07958 569266 leaving your details and a contact number, or get them at the Supporters’ Club’s presentation evening. All money raised at these events goes to Squadbuilder fund.

FOR those that don’t know, the Knights’ offices have moved back from Roland Court, off Huntington Road, to Huntington Stadium.

This follows on from the Knights getting control of the bar and box areas at the ground – another advantage of that lease agreement.