YORK City Knights boss Paul March has refused to criticise Paul Hughes after the hooker saw red in Sunday's defeat to Gateshead.

Hughes was sent off after allegedly throwing punches during a mass brawl, which followed a dangerous tackle on team-mate Lee Mapals. Gateshead's Dylan Nash was also sent off for his part in the fracas.

March, however, said Hughes was defending his mate, an act which represented the unity in the squad. He added he would be in the line-up for this Sunday's second Northern Rail Cup group match against his former club, Featherstone, given that any disciplinary hearing will not take place before Tuesday.

March said: "He was looking after his mates. That's what we've got in the club. We've got that closeness."

March also said Hughes was "not the kind of lad" to display a short temper, but intimated his actions were the result of some indifferent refereeing by Dewsbury official Craig Halloran.

"I think he got frustrated as did some of the other lads," he explained. "It could have been avoided if the ref had stamped down on it all earlier. Once one of his mates is getting tackled like that, then he's tried to help him out. If it starts occurring week in week out that's when I will pull him up."

March also revealed he has spoken to the referee's commissioner about some of Gateshead's spoiling tactics. He felt the Thunder were allowed by Halloran to unfairly lie on and use the grapple technique in the ruck.

"Hopefully they're going to deal with it," he said. "We didn't get it dealt with in the game, but hopefully next time we play them it will be sorted."