Season run-down

PRE-SEASON
THE Knights, following the heartache of the 2004 promotion play-off final defeat to Halifax, enjoyed a decent 2005 pre-season under new head coach Mick Cook.

The pick of the performances was probably the 38-24 defeat of a Leeds side featuring mostly youngsters but with a few first-team stars. Rhinos loanee Peter Fox gave a sign of his try-scoring prowess with a hat-trick against his ‘parent club’ while new captain Chris Levy also impressed.

Dan Potter scored a hat-trick in a 38-26 defeat of NL1 side Doncaster, while the programme ended with a defeat, albeit with a solid display, at the KC Stadium to a decent young Hull side.

FEBRUARY (matches on 13th, 20th, 27th)

Northern Rail Cup group
Castleford (away) lose 52-2
Goals: P Thorman.
Terrible start to the term after an enterprising pre-season. Full-timers Cas were always expected to win but the heaviness of the defeat is disappointing.

Northern Rail Cup group
Sheffield (home) win 34-6
Tries: Law 2, Smith 2, Potter. Goals: Ross 7.
A good result but not a particularly inspiring performance against a lacklustre side.

Northern Rail Cup group
Featherstone (a) lose 21-20
T: Levy, Potter, Sozi. G: Ross 4.
Better performance and good to run an NL1 side so close, losing only to a late drop goal, though it is felt the 2004 side, who beat Fev four times, would probably have won.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: John Smith

MARCH (6th, 13th, 20th, 25th, 28th)

Northern Rail Cup group
Featherstone (h) draw 20-20
T: Levy, Law, Callaghan, Fox. G: Ross 2.
Late comeback wins a point in quick rematch, though it is an average encounter.

Challenge Cup third round
Elland (a) win 50-12
T: Fox 2, Smith, Watson, Rhodes, P Thorman, Callaghan, Elston, N Thorman. G: Ross 7.
Comfortable win over amateurs in a game switched to Huntington Stadium.

Northern Rail Cup group
Castleford (h) lose 24-16
T: Watson, Lingard. G: P Thorman 4.
Excellent game and far better performance than in the season’s opener. The first sign of the Knights’ true aptitude.

Northern Rail Cup group
Hunslet (a) lose 18-12
T: Blaymire, Ramsden. G: Ross, Cain.
Rubbish performance in a rubbish match, albeit a ‘nothing game’. Fans slate Mick Cook’s rotation policy and captain Chris Levy’s (pictured) contribution.

National League Two
Swinton (h) lose 34-18
T: Law 2, Cain. G: P Thorman 3.
Not a bad game but Swinton, with their own title aspirations, are the better side, while on-loan Calvin Watson has a stinker. Cook’s team have now won only once in seven games against professional opposition.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Adam Sullivan

APRIL (3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th)

Challenge Cup fourth round
Oldham (a) win 32-28
T: Potter 2, Liddell, Fox, Friend, Ward. G: Liddell 4.
Shock win away to NL1 club in a ding-dong thriller heralds a massive and much-needed turnaround in form. One of the best games in the Knights’ history.

National League Two
Keighley (a) win 42-31
T: Sullivan, Cain, Law, Potter, Fairfield, Kirke, Fox 2. G: Liddell 5.
If the Oldham win didn’t kick-start the season, this does. Knights’ title chances already look down and out at 31-12 behind with 19 minutes left – until a truly astonishing comeback kicks in, instigated by a red card for Cougars full-back Matt Bramald. Prop Adam Sullivan gives arguably the best individual performance of any Knight in their three-year existence.

National League Two
Sheffield (h) win 60-10
T: Potter, Fox 4, Levy 2, Liddell, Smith, Elston, Friend. G: P Thorman 8.
Dominant display and some second-half flamboyancy, with Peter Fox’s four tries the highlight.

National League Two
Dewsbury (h) win 74-12
T: Potter 3, Fox 2, Jackson, Kirke 2, Sozi 2, Law, Rhodes, Blaymire. G: Liddell 11.
Extraordinary record result against many pundits’ favourites for the title. Ian Kirke’s length-of-field try against former club was the highlight of many highlights of a fantastic attacking performance by the team. Jon Liddell equals Knights’ goals-in-a-match record. Month ends with 100 per cent record – as it will in July and August.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Adam Sullivan

MAY (6th, 15th, 22nd)

Challenge Cup fifth round
St Helens (a) lose 62-0
Fans excel themselves on Friday night out. Battling performance against then Cup holders doesn’t deserve a blank score.

National League Two
Gateshead (a) win 24-16
T: Kirke, Callaghan, Sozi, Fox. G: P Thorman 4.
Scrappy but entertaining win over Dean Thomas’ under-rated side.

National League Two
Hunslet (h) win 17-16
T: Lingard, Rhodes, Blaymire. G: P Thorman 2. DG: Levy.
Chris Levy wins edge-of-the-seat game with late drop goal after Knights come from 14-0 down. Not the best performance but two points are much-needed.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Adam Sullivan

JUNE (4th, 12th, 26th)

National League Two
Blackpool (h) win 60-10
T: Jackson, Lingard 2, Potter, Ramsden 2, Law, Levy, Elston, Fox 2, Sullivan. G: P Thorman 6.
Knights not at their finest but don’t have to be.

National League Two
London Skolars (a) win 32-14
T: Fox 2, Sullivan, Bates, Lingard, Blaymire. G: P Thorman 3, Lingard.
Professional if unspectacular performance in tough game.

National League Two
Workington (a) lose 44-28
T: Levy, Blaymire, Fox, Rhodes, Sozi. G: P Thorman 4.
Workington give the best display of any NL2 side against the Knights this season, with hat-trick full-back Lusi Sione on fire.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Chris Levy

JULY (3rd, 10th, 24th, 31st)

National League Two
Keighley (h) win 44-16
T: Fox, Levy, Sozi, Liddell 2, Bates, Ross, Kirke. G: P Thorman 5, Liddell.
Knights turn on the burners in second half as they bounce back well from defeat.

National League Two
Swinton (a) win 32-16
T: Blaymire 2, Elston, Fox, Ross. G P Thorman 6.
Gritty, high intensity clash to match the high stakes. Knights avenge NL2 opening defeat and bolster their promotion credentials.

National League Two
Gateshead (h) win 37-36
T: Levy, Ross, Elston, Helme, Law, Blaymire. G: P Thorman 6. DG: P Thorman.
Knights throw away a 36-12 lead as Gateshead draw level – before kicker Paul Thorman (pictured) comes up trumps against his former club with late drop goal. Thunder even miss a penalty after that. Not good for the nerves.

National League Two
Dewsbury (a) win 23-15
T: Elston, Law, Fox, Potter. G: P Thorman, Ross. DG Levy.
A magnificent comeback from 14-0 down at half-time against big-spending Rams ends in breathtaking finale as Chris Ross scores a last-minute penalty and Dan Potter a stoppage-time try. Superb, vital win in an all-important top-of-the-table heart-stopping thriller, a great advert for NL2.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Lee Paterson

AUGUST (7th, 14th, 21st)

National League Two
Blackpool (a) win 54-22
T: Law, Levy, Jackson, Ross, Potter, Elston 2, Smith, Sullivan, Blaymire. G: P Thorman 7.
Good, professional display against a side who defy their bottom-of-the-table status.

National League Two
London Skolars (h) win 60-12
T: Buchanan 2, Fox 4, Lingard, Potter 3, Ross, Elston. G: P Thorman 4, Ross 2.
Another big win, albeit against a struggling side who are easily taken apart after the break.

National League Two
Hunslet (a) win 24-22
T: Potter 2, Law, Blaymire. G: P Thorman 2, Paterson 2.
A fittingly nerve-wrecking way to win the title. Trailing 22-0, York come back in another second-half super-show to win it with a late penalty from Lee Paterson, not a regular goal-kicker. Hunslet also have a try in seven minutes of stoppage time ruled out. Final hooter signals wild celebrations, after a game that mirrored the whole season.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Dan Potter

SEPTEMBER (4th, 9th)

National League Two
Workington (h) lose 20-18
T: Smith, Levy 2 G: P Thorman 3.
Town fight back from 18-4 down to complete a league double. Nevertheless, York are given NL2 trophy in memorable post-match presentation.

National League Two
Sheffield (a) win 36-10
T: Sozi, Rhodes, Law 2, Lingard, Smith, Ross. G: Liddell, Ross, Levy, Jackson.
Lee Jackson ends his career in style – kicking the last goal to cap a seven-try display.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Adam Sullivan