A DISTRAUGHT Jamie Bovill apologised to his team-mates as soon as possible after his early red card heralded an opening day defeat for York City Knights.

Oldham referee Ian Smith's decision to send Bovill off just five minutes into his debut against his former club, Hull KR, was highly controversial but the prop was nevertheless eager to make up for his error.

Bovill was clearly downbeat. He said: "I've not seen it on the video but it seemed a bit harsh. It's one of those things I suppose.

"I apologised to the lads in the changing room. You don't expect a sending-off like that. They said they thought it was a bad decision."

Smith judged that Bovill had caught former team-mate and "good friend" Byron Ford with an intentional high tackle.

Bovill said: "I was excited at the start of the game. There was no intent and he ducked into it a bit. I went for his shirt but I caught him on the neck.

"He bounced straight back up. I don't think it was a red card."

The Knights lost 32-2 but it was a battling display with most of Rovers' tries coming in the last quarter.

"To have 12 men after five minutes, it's going to cost them," added the 22-year-old.

"We can look to the future now. Hopefully we can crack on next week."

Smith himself told the Press he could not discuss the decision before sending in his report to the Rugby Football League, but he confirmed the red card was for a high tackle and added: "I had a really good view of it."

Updated: 11:30 Monday, February 13, 2006