NEW Earswick All Blacks amateur Carl Barrow will attempt to press his case for a permanent return to Huntington Stadium tonight – six years after his last spell.

York City Knights take on Castleford in the Paul Higgins Memorial match, and Barrow, so impressive for the York Select XIII against the Knights in their opening pre-season game, is to start in the second row.

The 27-year-old has trained with the club this week and has been taken on trial along with Skirlaugh’s Lee Waterman, 21, who made his debut in the academy friendly at Hunslet last week.

The Knights are also looking to trial BARLA Under-21s full-back James Craven, and he could also play tonight if given permission from amateur club Thornhill.

Knights boss Paul March reckons Barrow could carve out a future in the semi-professional arena.

March said: “Carl impressed us a lot in that Select game. He impressed in training as well. His work ethic and enthusiasm look good.”

Barrow played for York Wasps academy in 1999 and, after a spell with Castleford’s junior set-up, joined the Wasps’ first team in their doomed 2002 campaign, before returning to the amateur game in York.

Craven was coached by March for three years as he rose into Thornhill’s first team. He has also had a spell with Batley’s U21s.

First-choice trio Paul Hughes, Adam Sullivan and Mark Applegarth will get their first run-outs of pre-season, but the Knights will field a predominantly inexperienced squad of players, including the two York College teenagers, Dan Fairclough and Tom Lineham, who debuted against Hunslet.

Many of these youngsters were coached by Higgins – the former Knights academy boss, North Yorkshire development chief and York College coach, who died of a heart attack at a schools tournament in October – and March reckoned tonight’s game, in honour of the 56-year-old, could be an emotional affair.

However, he said the players must stay professional as they bid to win first-team starts.

“Emotions will be high because it’s a game for Higgo,” said March. “He coached these lads for a long time. But they have to make sure they keep calm and do the job we expect them to do.”

He added: “These games are learning curves for a lot of the players. We’re just looking for improvement. We will then go into Sunday’s game (final friendly at home to Hull KR) looking for improvement again.

“At this stage results are secondary to performance.”

Tonight’s game will see the launch of the Higgo’s 13-a-side Rugby Foundation, which aims to raise funds for junior and community rugby league across North Yorkshire.

Higgins, who lived in Acomb but was originally from Castleford, also played for Cas and coached their academy, which provides the bulk of York’s opposition tonight.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson said: “The loss of Paul is something we will never fully recover from. The amount of work he did for the club and for rugby league in Yorkshire was fantastic.

“We are committed to paying tribute to him and a game between the two clubs he served the best is extremely fitting.”

There will be a bucket collection tonight for the Higgo’s Foundation, and a minute’s applause before kick off. The winners will also receive the new Paul Higgins Memorial Trophy.

Higgins’ widow, Marilyn, said: “Myself and my family are extremely proud to be involved with the Knights and thank them for their support following Paul’s death.”

Kick off is 8pm and turnstiles open from 6.30pm. Normal admission prices apply.

Knights: Craven, Joe Stearman, Blaney, Jones, Stancliffe, Grimshaw, Watling, Sullivan, Hodgson, Woodcock, O Wilcox-Harrison, Barrow, Applegarth.

Subs: Hughes, Endersby, Jack Stearman, Fairclough, Lineham, Walton, Hunter.


A mark of respect

TOM HODGSON will captain the Knights tonight as a mark of respect to Paul Higgins.

Hodgson was particularly close to his former academy coach, and takes the armband from fellow hooker Paul Hughes, who starts as substitute.

Hodgson, who rose into the first team under Higgins’ guidance, was also a pallbearer at his funeral in October.