Head Coach James Ford has called for an improvement in attack from his side ahead of their final pre-season game against Bradford Bulls at Dewsbury this Sunday.
York City Knights hosted Halifax RLFC yesterday in their only home trial match of 2020, where the visitors humbled the Knights 16-6 at Bootham Crescent.
Though the Knights boss did highlight some positives out of the match, he believed that they ‘should have done better’ in what was a frustrating afternoon for the club.
Ford said: “I thought our organisation, execution and ball handling were miles off from the level we were need to be at.
“We gave away some daft penalties as well, we cannot control what the referee does so we have to adapt to him, not have him adapt to us and that is just how it is.
“Having said that, I thought we defended pretty well. I know we conceded three tries, two of them from kicks and maybe we should have been stronger on our goal line too.
“We identified against Featherstone that we wanted to improve our defence. Our technique is something we have worked at.
“Evidently though, we have not spent enough time with ball in hand but we can do better.
“The boys have got the game against Bradford to show what they are capable of and hopefully we can build on it heading into our first league match against Toulouse.”
The result means that the Knights remain winless in pre-season but the despite the loss, Ford was impressed with quartet Lewis Carr, Robbie Storey, Harry Bardle and Lewis Brown.
Carr and Storey are on dual-registration from the Castleford Tigers whereas Bardle and Brown are currently on trial with the club.
Happy to have them feature, Ford said. “I was happy to include two players on dual-registration and of course our two trialists.
“We did not want to play Will Sharp for the full game so we enquired regarding Lewis Carr to come in and play a 40-minute spell.
“I have known of Lewis from his academy days, I think he has some potential and played well today.
“I thought Robbie Storey did well, coming in for Brad Hey for a period and I thought he (Storey) was really strong, having some positive involvements with the ball and he, too, has plenty of promise.
“As for our trialists, I thought Harry (Bardle) carried the ball fine. I thought he defended better, despite the ‘fall over’ try for Fax that they scored going through both Harry and Brad (Hey) which I thought was disappointing.
“It was difficult for Lewis (Brown), coming in and playing in the halves with the team as ‘off’ as they were, but I will reserve judgement and look at the video.”
Next up for York is a trip to the Tetley’s Stadium where they will face the Bradford Bulls this Sunday, 26th January. The Knights secured a home and away double over the Bulls last season in what proved crucial towards the play-offs so there’s certainly no love lost between the two sides...
The game kicks off at 3pm so make sure to get down there and sing loud and proud as the 2020 Betfred Championship seasons draws ever so closer!
Admission prices at the Tetley’s Stadium are as follows:
South Stand/Beaumont Terrace (Standing)
Adults – £15 (On The Gate: £17)
Concessions – £10 (On The Gate: £12)
Junior Season Ticket Holders – FREE
Junior Non-Season Ticket Holders – £3
Under-5s – FREE
North Stand (Seating)
Adults – £15 (On The Gate: £17)
Concessions – £10 (On The Gate: £12)
Junior Season Ticket Holders – FREE
Junior Non-Season Ticket Holders – £3
Under-5s – FREE
2020 season tickets and memberships are available now. Secure your place in the brand new LNER Community Stadium today by emailing Zillah Ingledew at z.ingledew@yorkcityknights.com or call 01904 876527 for further details!
