York City Knights 50, Hunslet Hawks 12 - Friendly (From York Press)

York City Knights 50, Hunslet Hawks 12 - Friendly

11:15am Friday 22nd January 2010

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SECOND-ROW Chris Clough laid claim for a first-team berth with a first-half hat-trick as York City Knights ended their pre-season campaign with a third win in seven days, beating Hunslet 50-12.

The new-look Knights, having begun with that Christmas defeat to the York Select XIII, have now enjoyed wins over teams from Hull KR, Castleford and the Hawks, with the forwards prominent each time – the competition for pack places meaning players like Clough must shine to stay in.

Last night’s result – after which match-day captain Richard Blakeway lifted the Mayfair Security Cup – thus completed decent preparation for James Ratcliffe’s men ahead of the Northern Rail Cup opener at Rochdale a week on Sunday, although they have another friendly in which to hone their skills, against a Leeds line-up the following Wednesday.

Not much should be read into last night’s result, though. Hunslet, York’s arch-rivals in Championship One and expected title challengers, fielded a reserves team featuring few potential first-choices, former Knights Joe Helme and Darren Robinson, and full-back Stuart Kain along them.

None of the 11 Knights who left Huntington Stadium for south Leeds, including player-coach Paul March, were involved – all watching from the stands.

They would have had smiles on their faces when centre Nathan Goodman put their team ahead, Robinson goaling. They might have had snidey grins, too, when big prop Helme hit Danny Ratcliffe with a high tackle.

Referee Dave Merrick had words with Helme – trying to stem any potential ill-feeling early – and also with Clough for his part in the minor melee that followed. Helme, not the cleanest player on any of his returns to York, was at the centre of two more incidents in the second half when Nathan Freer was spear-tackled and with further roughing-up, finally being yellow-carded on the hour.

Some fans had feared the game would be a grudge match, and there were indeed a few more dodgy tackles, but it didn’t descend into violence.

Clough responded with the equalising try, from Chris Thorman’s grubber, and York were soon ahead when Thorman’s chip to the same left corner saw loose-forward Blakeway leap like a basketballer to score, Lee Waterman adding the first two of four conversions.

Stand-off Thorman was a constant creative force, picking the pace up in his second run-out for his new club, while half-back partner Casey Bromilow showed good fast hands throughout.

Both he and Blakeway had fumbled early on, but both showed fine skills when sending Clough in for his second try.

Hawks sub Scott Bradley was sin-binned on 26 minutes for deliberately slowing down the play-the-ball after Mike Mitchell’s excellent break upfield was halted.

York benefited as Thorman’s long pass saw Danny Wilson score in the corner, and, although Waterman followed Bradley to the bin for a similar offence, Clough completed his treble after a Ratcliffe break – comically touching down with his shorts around his knees having been dragged back.

Clough seemed to cheekily give a close-up of his posterior to the tackler, a gesture which could have been taken the wrong way, but wasn’t. Thorman took over the goalkicking, going on to add three conversions.

Hunslet’s Kain scored a lucky try from a kick on the half-time hooter, Robinson goaling, but Ratcliffe got the scoreboard ticking the right way again in the second half.

Big prop Brett Waller – he again made an impact – went close before winger Wilson bagged his second try down the right.

Bromilow gave further indication of the ability he will bring to York with a fine try, and, with Helme in the bin, sub Luke Hardbottle bagged his first try for the club, also shining with a crunching tackle on Goodman.

Knights: Ratcliffe, Reittie, Mitchell, Waterman, Wilson, Thorman, Bromilow, Applegarth, McLocklan, Benson, Clough, Hill, Blakeway. Subs (all used): Ross, Hardbottle, Freer, Peacock, Helliwell, Waller, Lewis.

Hawks: Kain, Straughan, Goodman, Sheldrake, Richardson, Robinson, Scott, Brook, Firm, Helme, M Kelly, Aitcheson, Young. Subs (all used): Lacey, Crosby, Stead, Greer, Lilywhite, Dale, Tomlinson, West, Bradley.

Referee: Dave Merrick.

Attendance: 353.

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