Nick Wright previews this weekend's clash between York City Knights and Hull FC
Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos
Vanbrugh were determined though, and had the better of the second half. A tap in from Regan and yet another from Gouland - his sixth of the tournament - meant a tense final ten minutes for James. They held out however, satisfied to take their chance with the penalty shoot out. But the momentum of the game was with Vanbrugh by this time, and it was Radford who slotted the winning sudden death penalty.
Rolfe 14 Holdsworth 26
Regan 37 Gouland 49
Penalties:
Vanbrugh win 5 - 4 on penalties.
Afterwards, Vanbrugh captain James Sweetman said, "it didn’t start particularly good, in fairness to James college they played very well in the first half and they scored two very good goals, in the second half we definitely came back into it. Our battling performance showed what the team was made of really. I think we definitely deserved to come to the end of the game with a draw."
I think we will beat Goodricke.
Looking forward he continued, "I think we will beat [Goodricke], it will be a very tough game. They showed they were a good team in the group stages with the 3 – 3 draw. We’ll be better than ever, I’m optimistic.
"We’ll stick to what we’re good at, keep it tight in the middle and keep it tight at the back. We’ll have to really grind out a result."
The Yorker: Can you win the tournament?
"Yes, as a team we’ve got much closer, with much more chat going on. We’ve got a decent solid team now."
Who would you say, aside from yourselves, are the best team in the tournament?
"I think Alcuin will be the team to beat, other than Goodricke, who on paper have a very strong team. We’ll jump that hurdle when we come to it."
Myles Preston isn't one to shirk the limelight, but when the Yorker got in touch he was surprisingly diplomatic...
The Yorker: Would you say you're in good form?
"Not really at all, to be fair we had a lot of players out [for the quarter final] and hopefully once our full squad is back, which it will be tomorrow, we should be performing much more like we have done for the last two terms, which is, in general, very well
"Although the 3-0 win against Halifax in the group stages was an excellent result it didn’t really reflect the nature of the game - which was much closer.
"We haven't really played our best so far, obviously with the penalty shootout we’ve just been grinding out results and getting through. We’re going to need to be better than that tomorrow against a team who I think are possibly player for player the strongest team in the tournament."
Are you confident of repeating the result in the group stage?
"I can’t see it being 3-0 again, to be fair I’d take anything. 1-0 5-4 on pens, as long as we get through I’m not really bothered about what the actual score is. As long as we somehow manage to pull through and win it!
"I would point to players like Henry Smith, who we missed sorely against Derwent, as a sort of catalyst to not only to give us that extra bit of quality, but show that battling quality that really has epitomised us this year."
What would you say to the rumours circulating that Preston might not find his way back into the first team?
"Those are interesting rumours, all I’m going to say is we have got 18 players at Alcuin who I would consider to be of first team class. The best 11 players will be playing tomorrow, make of that what you will."
Alcuin aside, who are the best team in the tournament?
"I would say Halifax and Goodricke are the real picks but Vanbrugh once again have shown that they’ve got the strength to get through, coming back from 2-0 against a strong James side. Having already drawn with Goodricke and nearly nicked it I fancy their chances with a really good spine to their team with Johnny Mac (McWilliams), Brummy Mat (Witherwick) and Gouland.
Alcuin Goodricke would obviously be a dream final!
Who would you prefer to play in the final? "It doesn’t really matter who we play as long as we end up lifting that trophy that me and Owen Grafham haven’t even bought yet!"
Alcuin 1sts will face Halifax 1sts tomorrow, with the match kicking off at 11am. Halifax stalwart Will Broadhurst spoke to the Yorker ahead of the game.
"I think we have a fair shout [of winning the cup]. Goodricke and Alcuin are obviously favourites, but we have a really strong team and are still pretty pissed off at losing an even game 3-0 because of some late breakaway goals
"We haven't hit anywhere near our best form so far in this tournament, but we are capable of putting in an excellent performance and setting up a great final - which I would think would be against a very strong Goodricke side."
Finally, The Yorker caught up with Goodricke captain, Adam Lewis.
The Yorker: How do you feel your team's form has been so far this tournament?
"Form has been good, we've showed glimpses of our potential but still not quite played to the standard that I know we can. But now that we've got our whole squad available I feel we can show how good we are."
Do you fancy your chances of beating Vanbrugh? Can you improve on the 3-3 you played out in the group stage?
"I feel we've got a decent chance of beating Vanbrugh. They've got one of the tournament's outstanding players in Gouland but they've also got a good team ethic with players who are of similar ability to ours if not as well known. The reason we only drew last time was a lack of centre-backs and their ability from dead-balls which I feel we've gradually got better at throughout the tournament. I really feel we should win this game and will only have ourselves to blame if we don't."
Which team do you think will progress from the other semi?
"Really have no idea who progresses. I really don't mind who wins as they're both good teams. Ultimately we're just concentrating on the game on Thurs as much of a cliche that it is."
Do you think you can win the tournament?
"Definitely think we have the potential to win the tournament. We just have to play as good as we know we can. We have the experience of this tournament with so many third years, and this will be their last chance of silverware."
Do you think you will?"
"Yes I do!"
Alcuin 1sts play Halifax 1sts Tuesday on the Astroturf, kicking off at 11.00.
Goodricke 1sts play Vanbrugh 1sts Thursday on the Astroturf, kicking off at 11.00
I don't care who wins this tournament just as long as Alcuin lose it
Best of luck to all of the teams involved, and let's not forget the plate as well with Alcuin 2s vs Wentworth 1sts tomorrow at 12 and Derwent 2nds vs Halifax 2nds at 12 on thursday!
Isn't Oli Fahey Halifax skipper? Unavailable to comment?
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