Knights target points return from last matches (From York Press)

Knights target points return from last matches

9:20am Saturday 13th August 2011 in Diary By Peter Martini, peter.martini@thepress.co.uk

DAVE WOODS has dismissed the notion of targeting maximum points from York City Knights’ last two games if it means giving up the ghost tomorrow.

The problem the Knights and head coach Woods have is the fact they will almost certainly need at least four points from their last three games – possibly more – to avoid relegation from the Co-operative Championship.

However, the formbook suggests they have little chance of leaving the Leigh Sporting Village with anything tomorrow given the sides’ relative positions at either end of the table.

Therefore, there could be a temptation to forego this particular match – possibly resting key men, possibly using it merely as a warm-up – in order to focus all energies on getting a maximum haul from the televised clash at home to Halifax on Thursday.

Woods and Co would then have 17 days to prepare for the crucial last game of the season away to Sheffield Eagles.

However, the Aussie believes such a strategy would be far too chancy, and says it is paramount they aim for points from every match – with the idea of travelling home tomorrow with at least a bonus point.

“It can be risky when you start doing that sort of stuff,” said Woods, when asked if he had considered resting players tomorrow to concentrate on the Fax match.

“For a start there’s no saying we will definitely get points against Halifax. We need bodies on board and everyone to do their job.”

The Knights will find themselves in the drop zone tomorrow night unless they win at Leigh.

Indeed, if they come back with nothing, there is a good chance they would find themselves at the bottom of said zone.

That is because Dewsbury and Hunslet – the other two clubs in the three-horse race to avoid the two relegation spots – meet at Tetley’s Stadium.

They are both only a point behind York and if one wins and the other collects a bonus point, they would both go above the Knights, whose points-difference is the worst in the division. If they draw, they would both go above York even if the Knights get a bonus point.

The Knights could even be bottom of the lot tomorrow night if those two results go against Woods’ men and Toulouse – who are exempt from relegation (and indeed are leaving to return to French competition next year) also get something from their trip to Batley tonight.

Woods said it was important his side went full-out for reward tomorrow.

“We want to try to get at least a point out of it,” he said, regardless of their heavy underdogs status.

“We put it to the boys that we need three or four points from these last three games and we asked do they think they can get it. They said yes. They just need to play for the full 80 minutes rather than 60.”

THERE has been a bit of debate about what result at Tetley’s Stadium would suit York the most – before the Knights’ own result at Leigh is taken into account.

The worst result is almost certainly a win for either Dewsbury or Hunslet and a bonus point for the other, which means both would go above York.

The best, therefore, is either a draw, or a big win for one of the other.

Two points each would leave both only one point above York – but that result also means a maximum four points is taken from that game.

A big win for one would mean the other remain below the Knights, but the winners go two points above, leaving Dave Woods’ men with a bigger gap to safety.

Looking at the fixtures to come, Dewsbury have to face Featherstone and Leigh – the top two – so are big underdogs to get any more points from those two games. Hunslet, meanwhile, need to face wobbly Barrow and inconsistent Halifax, so could feasibly get something.

It seems fair to suggest, then, that a big win for Dewsbury tomorrow would be the ideal result from a York perspective, as – on paper at least – it could leave the Knights with the least to do to secure their own safety.

Then again, who knows?

The old cliché is to not think about results elsewhere and concentrate on the only thing you can affect – ie the Knights’ matches. But I’m sure most people involved with the Knights – players, coaches and staff, as well as fans – will look straight for the result at Tetley’s Stadium following their own team’s match at Leigh.

THE supporters’ bus to tomorrow’s crucial game at high-flying Leigh is now sold out.

Pick-up points are the Ainsty (11.45am), Clarence Street (noon) and Huntington Stadium (12.15pm).

For those going by train, the nearest station to the Leigh Sporting Village is at Atherton, four miles away. Travel by Transpennine Express to Manchester Piccadilly and then on to Atherton. Visit www.tpexpress.co.uk for times and prices.