Knights are Co-operative

11:30am Saturday 19th July 2008

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A POSSE of Knights went to Haxby yesterday to open the new-look Co-op on Ryedale Court.

Among them were chairman Roger Dixon, pictured with the giant scissors, who had the honour of officially opening the refurbished store, player-boss Paul March, far left, and mascot Norris the Knight, seen here taking it easy in a shopping trolley. Children from Ralph Butterfield Primary School also took part.

The Co-op company sponsors the National Leagues.

A SECOND successive man-of-the-match award has lifted Danny Ekis (3pts) into contention for the end-of-year prizes in the Press/K Walker & Co Player of the Year competition.

The prop has found his best form of the season and a continuation of that will be a big boon for the Knights in the run-in and, hopefully, the play-offs.

Two-try Tom Hodgson (2pts) won the sponsors’ accolade against Blackpool and also gets on our podium. He is an exciting prospect and can be an exciting player to watch too. Paul March (1pt) pipped his brother to the remainder.

Press/K Walker & Co Player of the Year standings: Mapals 18, Buckley 16, Spicer 14, Ekis 14, P March 14, D March 11, Divorty 10, Applegarth 8, Oakes 7, Hughes 7, Lewis 6, Esders 6, Grimshaw 6, Ratcliffe 5, Hodgson 4, Rhodes 3, Grice 3, Greenwood 1.

THE Knights Supporters’ Club coach to tomorrow’s game at Workington will leave Huntington Stadium at 10.15am and Clarence Street at 10.30am. Prices are £16 for adults, and £10 for under-16s and students. To book, call Jenny on 07958 569266.

THE Supporters’ Club are staging a race night tonight at the Quaker Wood pub. The first race is at 8.30pm. All are welcome.

The philosophy of good discipline

A BIG thing has been made of discipline in rugby league this week – none more so than at Huntington Stadium.

The Rugby Football League sent out a memo to clubs and players warning them about their behaviour towards match officials, following an increase in the number of professionals remonstrating with referees.

It was not aimed solely at York City Knights, of course, but it has to be said they have had their fair share of decisions go against them this season for misdemeanours such as dissent – player-coach Paul March being among those culpable.

The RFL are trying to stamp out the descent towards the football-style haranguing of refs, and so, it would seem, are the Knights.

Regardless of the RFL’s memo, The Press understands that York assistant-boss James Ratcliffe had a word with March telling him to cut out any sniping at referees – no matter how poor the officialdom seems – and instead focus on what he could actually do to affect matches positively.

In fact, so we believe, Ratcliffe warned the player-boss that he would use his authority as head coach on match-days by hauling the scrum-half off the pitch if he saw him merely raise his arms in frustrated protest at a referee’s decision-making.

Maybe it’s an attempt not only to get March to concentrate on his own performance rather than that of the ref, where he can do the best kind of damage, but to also prevent the former Wakefield star earning himself a reputation among National League officials – a reputation that could work against him given that some refs can have bouts of LHS (little headmaster syndrome).

Such discipline among the Knights improved immeasurably from the previous week’s defeat at Gateshead, and as a result, they thrashed Blackpool 20-5 on the penalty count, as well as 62-6 on the scoreboard.

They also hopefully saw how much easier the game can be if it is the opposition, and not themselves, who are crucified on pens.

It was also well-timed given last week’s RFL memo. In a letter to all Super League and National League clubs, the RFL highlighted a trend of players taking an unwanted leaf out of football’s books by disputing decisions and using aggressive body language or “mobbing” the referee.

Clubs and players have been told anyone abusing match officials from now on can expect to be charged – which is something March has personal experience of as he is due back before the RFL beaks in a fortnight to argue against the charge of using abusive language to a fourth official that has been hanging over him since mid-June. It is a charge he strenuously denies, by the way.

Emma Rosewarne, the RFL’s operations director, said: “Rugby league players have a long and proud reputation for treating match officials with respect, and indeed the majority of players are exemplary role models.

“However, in recent weeks we’ve seen some of those high standards slipping. This will not be tolerated in rugby league.

“We are very proud of the RFL’s RESPECT campaign and our letter to clubs is intended to remind professional players they have a duty as role models throughout the sport to uphold the traditions of the game and ensure their behaviour is beyond reproach.”

We all know how frustrating it is to be on the wrong end of poor decisions, but, while argument can occasionally have a constructive effect on a ref’s mind for next time there is a 50-50 decision, it more often than not makes matters worse.

Now, that threat is greater as players found guilty of using aggressive body language when disputing a decision know full well they could face a lengthy ban.

Criticism of referees should probably therefore be left to impartial match commissioners – and to the media, of course.

THIS might be a bit controversial, but the only thing I am surprised about when it comes to players remonstrating with referees is the fact it has taken so long to become an issue in rugby league.

Call it cheating if you will, but getting a referee to make a favourable call has been an art form in football for decades. Whether that is by falling over at the merest touch, or putting the ref under immense pressure by contesting decisions, it is part of the professional game – whether it is wanted or not.

Regardless of rugby league’s well-founded reputation of accepting referees’ authority, it is a professional sport just like football is, and there is lots to be lost and gained on the call of an official.

Beating the referee, therefore, has its obvious advantages.

Remonstrating can sometimes have a propitious effect as it can put doubt in the ref’s mind that he might have made a mistake and, given he should be a stickler for fairness, he might have an urge to “even things up”. You see it in football a lot.

The same goes for feigning injury. I am still genuinely surprised that very few rugby players try to con referees for the benefit of their team. A fast, firm tackle around the shoulders, for example, can often look like a high shot, and feigning injury can make it look worse, and thus enhance the opponent’s punishment.

We occasionally see players “buy” penalties off referees, not least in a scrappy ruck, but it is not taken to the extremes that it might be.