REFEREES – don’t you just love ’em. As the old adage goes, we wouldn’t have a game without them, and we wouldn’t have talking points aplenty either.

As York City Knights are concerned, we wouldn’t have a whole load of controversies and conspiracy theories too.

Last season much was made of the March brothers’ disciplinary issues, with many Knights fans fearing the pair had been targeted by officialdom, be it fairly, unfairly or due to reputations preceding them, or even a refereeing pact with the devil.

This season, player-coach Paul March outlined his own desire to bite his tongue and stay out of the disciplinary spotlight, and up until last weekend everything was going swimmingly.

But then came the Dewsbury game, a rookie referee from St Helens, a penalty count of 24-9 against, three sin-binnings and two ‘on report’ incidents.

While frustration certainly got the better of some players as the game wore on, and is a fault which needs to be corrected, the performance of inexperienced whistler Chris Leatherbarrow was a clear factor, the extent of which varies depending on differing perspectives.

Humans naturally get frustrated at perceived injustices – and it is no different for players when they believe the referee has made a wrong decision. But, while most players will tell you it is easier to overcome that injustice once the ref explains his reasoning, if he displays a little headmaster mentality or refuses to show such grace – and indeed penalises the captain for daring to speak to him, no matter how politely – then those frustrations deepen and discipline wobbles.

Not that I’m making assumptions about Mr Leatherbarrow’s mindset, but his decision to sin-bin March perhaps underlined the way things were going.

According to the Knights’ player-coach, Leatherbarrow accidentally stepped on his foot as he prepared to put the ball into a scrum, and March quipped, “Are you going to give us a penalty for that?”

Be it either a joke or minor sarcasm, it is hardly foul or abusive language.

Minutes earlier, of course, Leatherbarrow had penalised York when the ball had hit him as the players lined up for another scrum. His back was turned when the ball was gently lobbed up so he wouldn’t have known if it was a York player who threw it, never mind if it was actually aimed at him.

Of course he may have got a call from a touch judge but the immediacy of his decision was such there was probably no time.

Unfortunately, arbitrariness in arbitration, or refereeing preconceptions, are rarely reassuring, no matter how many other decisions are correct.

It is another lesson, maybe, for March et al, but hopefully young ref Leatherbarrow will also learn from this experience to avoid future controversies.

sTILL on the point of discipline at Dewsbury (and to some extent Mr Leatherbar-row), all four Knights players who were placed on the Rugby Football League’s disciplinary rota after the game will not be punished further – which maybe tells its own tale.

Whether or not Mr Leatherbar-row’s after-match submissions aided the Knights, the panel decided there should be no charge against Adam Sullivan for dissent (sin-bin was deemed sufficient), March or Chris Clough for foul or abusive language, or Paul Hughes for a swinging arm.

Nothing further, either, came of the alleged dangerous tackle by Rob Kelly that was put on report.

sticking with Rob Kelly, the former Dewsbury back-rower jumped onto the Press/K Waker & Co Player of the Year leaderboard with his man-if-the-match display (3pts) last week.

A workhorse in the back row, he certainly put himself about against his old club. The other player-of-the-year points went to Mark Applegarth (2pts) and Paul Hughes (1pt).

Press/K Walker and Co Player of the Year standings: D March 5pts, Sullivan 5, Grimshaw 3, P March 3, Clough 3, Haberecht 3, Oakes 3, Kelly 3, Hughes 3, Applegarth 3, A Mitchell 2, Ratcliffe 2, Woodcock 1.

and sticking with the Kelly family, Rob’s dad, Andy, the former Dewsbury coach and Ireland boss, will undertake a Liverpool to Leeds canal walk to raise awareness and funds for the men’s cancer charity Orchid.

Andy Kelly, who will do the 127-mile cross-Pennine walk alongside ex-player Robin Jowitt over four days, was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 but has been in remission for the last four years.

To sponsor him, visit the website www.bmycharity.com/V2/letstackleit or request a donations form from Andy on email on 3of6@ntlworld.com jOHN Oakes’ run of scoring in every game this season – and six consecutive games including the last of the 2008 season – ended last week. The three quarter had been the only player in any of the divisions to have scored a try in each match this season.

tHE £1,000 prize draw, which has been raising money for the Knights’ academy and scholarship, will take place at half-time at tomorrow’s game.

Anyone who has bought a ticket for this draw is entitled to £2 off admission to the game by presenting their ticket at the turnstiles.

tHE Northern Rail Cup quarter-final away to Widnes has been provisionally arranged for 6.30pm on Saturday, June 6. It is thought their stadium is unavailable on the Sunday. Confirmation to come.

york City Knights Suppor-ters’ Club will be running coaches to the big Challenge Cup fourth round tie at Warrington next Saturday.

Coaches will leave Acomb (Boroughbridge Road, opposite Ainsty) 10.15am, Clarence Street (Conservative Club) 10.20am and Huntington Stadium 10.30am. The prices are £16 for adults and £10 for U16s. Contact the number above to book.