Thorman says individual gong is reward for squad efforts so far (From York Press)

Thorman says individual gong is reward for squad efforts so far

8:20am Saturday 13th February 2010 in

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CHRIS THORMAN has topped an excellent personal start to the season by being named the Northern Rail Cup Player of the Round – though he’s been quick to share the award with the team as a whole.

York City Knights’ new player/ caretaker-coach marked his first week in charge at competitive level with the winning drop goal three minutes from time as his side shocked Leigh Centurions 13-12 to kick off their campaign in style.

The 29-year old former Super League star had also helped to set up both of his side’s two tries.

However, in echoing comments in The Press’ match report that victory over the Championship big-guns was much more than a one-man show, Thorman stressed the award was one for the squad.

“It’s a good thing for the whole club,” he said. “I’ve accepted it on behalf of the team.

“I think the team has worked hard and this is reward for a strong pre-season, strong performances in pre-season and for taking that into the Leigh game. It’s reward for the full team.”

As for his own performance, he was satisfied but felt there was much more to come.

“It was all right,” said the half-back. “It was a bit stop-start to be honest. The team made a few errors with the ball. Defensively we’re much further ahead in our game than offensively. Personally I think there’s plenty of improvement to come both for myself and for the team.

“I’m getting used to playing with the boys. I’m reasonably happy with where I’m at but I’d like to think there’s a lot more to come.”

Thorman’s winning one-pointer came from 20 metres out, the ball just about creeping over the crossbar after the team had set up the field position.

He said: “It was not the best I’ve ever struck, but it was straight and I had every confidence it would make it.

“The scoreline doesn’t suggest a convincing result but I felt we were the better team and deserved the win.”

Thorman, who will be presented with the specially engraved award by sponsors Northern at the home match against London Skolars a week tomorrow, added: “Leigh have notable former Super League players in their ranks and a coach in Ian Millward who has a big reputation in both NRL and Super League, and they have aspirations to get back to Super League and play in a division above us, so it was a positive start for us.

“It doesn’t get any easier with Sheffield Eagles away this Sunday, but we are full of confidence.”

THAT the win over Leigh wasn’t a one-man show is reflected in the fact Thorman did not pick up The Press’ top gong this week as the new Press Player of the Year campaign got underway.

It was a difficult job picking a man of the match last Sunday, with the nod eventually going to Richard Blakeway for a real captain’s performance at loose-forward.

Match-winner Thorman nevertheless came second in the standings, while a toss-up for third place saw vice-captain Joe McLocklan get the nod for his good work at hooker.

The Player of the Year competition will take the same format as last year, with three points awarded to the Press’ man of the match in each game, two points given to whoever we deem to be the second-best performer each time, and one point for the third-best.

There are also an additional three bonus points given to the winners of each Press Player of the Month award, which will as normal be voted for entirely by readers of The Press, thus giving fans their say.

There is as yet no sponsor for this year’s Press Player of the Year competition, which in the past has received wonderful backing from the likes of Guildford Construction, Collier Plant Hire and, most recently, K Walker & Co Accountants.

Anyone interested in sponsoring this year’s competition, which brings with it weekly mentions and potential logos – and which in previous seasons is presented at the Knights’ plush annual black tie end-of-season awards ceremony at York Racecourse – can contact Peter Martini on 01904 567137 (email peter.martini@ thepress.co.uk) or speak to Sally Trousdale on 01904 567212 (email sally.trousdale@thepress.co.uk) in our advertising department.

Press Player of the Year standings: Blakeway 3pts, Thorman 2, McLocklan 1.

THE Knights Supporters’ Club are running a coach to tomorrow’s game at Sheffield.

It will depart Clarence Street at 12.15pm and Huntington Stadium at 12.30pm, costing £14 for adults, £7 for under-16s and £6 for travel club members. To book a seat, phone 07958 569266. Travel club membership costs £50 per year and gives discounted travel to matches.

A coach will also be run to the rearranged game at Rochdale on Wednesday. Phone the same number for details.

EAGLE-EYED readers would have spotted The Press’ back page on Thursday had the wrong result for the Knights’ midweek friendly against Leeds.

The details had been phoned through so that the article hit The Press’ new printing deadlines in Bradford, but unfortunately the score was keyed in incorrectly at the other end.

Apologies have been passed on, both to me (seeing as the copy had my by-line!) and to the readers.

The scoreline was nevertheless written correctly on our website and there were no problems with the match report on the inside pages.

There, that’s that cleared up then.

Wayne sets level for old club York to match

FORMER Knight Wayne McHugh set a new club record for Hunslet last week with a whopping 32 points in the Hawks’ 62-12 Northern Rail Cup routing of London Skolars.

The centre, who never hit his best form at Huntington Stadium, scored four tries and eight goals to beat the new Hunslet club’s previous points-in-a-match best of 30 set by Simon Wilson versus Huyton in the early 1990s.

The Hawks fielded eight of the 11 players who moved from York to south Leeds last year in the match at New River Stadium, and served notice of their potential potency for the Championship One campaign.

THE Knights entertain the Skolars a week tomorrow when comparisons will no doubt be made with their arch-rivals from the John Charles Stadium.

York will hopefully be boosted in their efforts that day by a large crowd, especially of enthusiastic kids, after a deal with competition sponsors Northern saw every school in York, both primary and secondary, each handed 100 free junior tickets for the Huntington Stadium clash.

THE winners of the competition run in The Press to win Knights junior season tickets for 2010 were: James O’Neill, of Bramley Garth; Daniel Davison, of Elmpark Vale; Finlay Osborne, of Heworth; Samantha Jane of Osbaldwick; and Charlie Nicholson.