Rivals of York City Knights in 2012 season

Peter Martini takes a look at the teams the Knights will face during the 2012 season, in both the Northern Rail Cup and the Championship.

Doncaster

Coach: Tony Miller
One to watch: Recruiting troubled ex-Super League star Paul Cooke might be a gamble but he has ability to cause anyone problems.
Prediction: Championship One side might cause one or two problems but shouldn’t pose a major threat.
Ground: Keepmoat Stadium.
Prices: £12 adults (£10 early bird if tickets bought before 5pm Friday), £10 students and over-60s (£8 early bird), £2 juniors.
Miles from York: 44.
Nearest railway station: Doncaster (direct from York) 2 miles.

Gateshead Thunder

Coach: Kevin Neighbour.
One to watch: Big Brett Waller will look to impress against old club York.
Prediction: Championship One stragglers will struggle.
Ground: Gateshead International Stadium.
Prices, distance, etc: not applicable.

Sheffield Eagles

Coach: Mark Aston.
One to watch: Bruising second-row Michael Knowles will hope to have an early impact on arrival from Barrow.
Prediction: Usually not at their best early in season but still formidable.
Grounds: Bramall Lane and Don Valley Stadium (v York at Don Valley Stadium).
Prices, distance, etc: see below.

Swinton Lions

Coach: Steve McCormack.
One to watch: Prop David Mills, who has arrived from Leigh, could be a key man in setting platforms early in the season.
Prediction: Will hope a decent Northern Rail Cup showing can lay foundations for good year in the Championship.
Ground: Leigh Sporting Village.
Prices, distance, etc: not applicable.

Batley Bulldogs

Coach: John Kear.
One to watch: Scrum-half Gareth Moore shunned York in the off-season after stepping back down from Super League.
Prediction: No longer the underdogs and will hope much-travelled ex-Super League coach Kear will have at least the same fine record as Halifax-bound Karl Harrison.
Ground: Mount Pleasant.
Prices: £15 adults; £10 students and over-65s; £3 juniors.
Miles from York: 34.
Nearest railway stations: Batley (change at Leeds) 0.8 miles, Dewsbury 1.8 miles.

Dewsbury Rams

Coach: Warren Jowitt.
One to watch: Fiery second-row/centre Ryan Esders didn’t hit the heights on his return to York from Super League last year but all Knights fans know what he is capable of.
Prediction: Turnover of players won’t get them out of the bottom three.
Ground: Tetley’s Stadium.
Prices: £13 adults seating, £14 adults standing; £7 over-60s and students standing, £9 over-60s and students seating; £2 juniors standing, £9 juniors seating.
Miles from York: 35.
Nearest railway stations: Batley (change at Leeds from York) 1.8 miles, Dewsbury (direct from York) 2 miles.

Featherstone Rovers

Coach: Daryl Powell.
One to watch: Half-back Kyle Briggs, who has returned from Bradford Bulls.
Prediction: Champions again.
Ground: Big Fellas Stadium (Post Office Rd).
Prices: £15 adults; £9 students and over-60s; £3 juniors.
Miles from York: 31.
Nearest railway station: Featherstone (change at Leeds from York) 0.2 miles.

Halifax

Coach: Karl Harrison.
One to watch: Paul Handforth is one of several notable signings.
Prediction: Spent big to win back title under new boss. Anything but top two would be a disappointment.
Ground: The Shay.
Prices: £15 adults standing, £18 adults seating; £10 students and over-60s standing, £13 students and over-60s seating; £5 juniors.
Miles from York: 46.
Nearest railway station: Halifax (direct from York, or change at Leeds or Huddersfield) 0.5 miles.

Hunslet Hawks

Coach: Barry Eaton.
One to watch: Half-back Danny Grimshaw, who returned after aborted off-season switch to Featherstone.
Prediction: New coach Eaton has a job on to keep Hawks, recently taken over by fans, off the bottom.
Ground: John Charles Stadium (South Leeds Stadium).
Prices: £16 adults; £8 over-65s; £3 juniors.
Miles from York: 30.
Nearest railway station: Leeds (direct from York) 2.4 miles.

Keighley Cougars

Player-coach: Jason Demetriou.
One to watch: Quick, clever former Super League half-back Sam Obst.
Prediction: Head-turning recruitment drive after promotion will have them eyeing top six in this higher tier.
Ground: Cougar Park.
Prices: £14 adults standing, £15 adults seating; £7 students, unemployed and over-65s standing, £8 students, unemployed and over-65s seating; £5 juniors standing, £6 juniors seating; free under-6s standing, £1 under-6s seating.
Miles from York: 83.
Nearest railway station: Keighley (change at Leeds from York) 0.7 miles.

Leigh Centurions

Coach: Paul Rowley.
One to watch: Power-packed ex- Super League back-rower Michael Worrincy was close to signing for York after a spell down under.
Prediction: Championship big-guns have had to rein in the spending but top five still on cards if they avoid injuries to a quality but small squad.
Ground: Leigh Sporting Village.
Prices: £16 adults standing, £18 adults seating; £8 students and over-65s standing, £9 students and over-65s seating; £5 juniors.
Miles from York: 82.
Nearest railway station: Atherton (change at Manchester from York) 3.9 miles.

Sheffield Eagles

Coach: Mark Aston.
One to watch: Misi Taulapapa is back after ill-fated switch to Hull KR.
Prediction: Top four will be out of reach this time for last year’s Grand Finalists despite Aston’s knowhow.
Grounds: Bramall Lane and Don Valley Stadium (v York at Don Valley Stadium).
Prices: £15 adults; £10 disabled and over-60s, £5 students and juniors.
Miles from York to Don Valley: 56
Nearest railway station to Don Valley: Sheffield 2.6 miles (direct from York).

Swinton Lions

Coach: Steve McCormack.
One to watch: Full-back Ian Mort is Championship One Player of the Year and broke club’s points in a season record.
Prediction: Bottom half for nomadic Championship One winners despite some decent recruitment.
Ground: Leigh Sporting Village.
Prices: £15 adults; £9 students and over-65s; £3 juniors.
Miles from York: 82.
Nearest railway station: Atherton (change at Manchester from York) 3.9 miles.