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
Liverpool Fury 28-24 York Centurions
In an emotionally charged encounter where both teams were desperate for their first win of the season, the lead changed sides more often than Italy in a war. Although York led 16-8 at the half, Liverpool’s greater knowledge of their artificial playing surface, and no small amount of controversy allowed the Fury to score three times in the second half to the visitors’ solitary touchdown. In York’s only game since Christmas without a professional officiating crew, some questionable decisions often went the way of the home side. This detracted from the monstrously effective Centurions’ running game, which gained 180 yards on the day.
For much of the game it was iron man football for both sides. York travelled with only 23 players as injuries had depleted the squad. The hard surface and increased game time accounted for several Centurions, with Harris Shauib and Chris Whitley suffering injuries likely to keep them out of Sunday’s clash with Leeds Celtics. Special mention must go to Shuaib, Sam Asfahani, Steve Braid and Alex Nock for playing all three sides of the ball. Grant Ninnes played the entire fourth quarter despite a twisted ankle. Braid particularly, averaging 11 tackles a game as linebacker, asked more questions of the Liverpool offensive line than the Spanish Inquisition.
Liverpool also played with a reduced squad and the linemen in particular had an increased workload. This made it slightly easier for the York offensive line, although they did more than enough to deserve the collective MVP award. Their shunt allowed the Centurions’ backs to run amok, as well as affording quarterback Josh Holt enough time to rack up his best stats of the season.
The first Centurion to get into the end zone in a regular season game, without it being disallowed, was fittingly Tom Lee. The star wide receiver sprinted in thanks to some superb blocking from Nick Walter and Asfahani. Walter himself rammed the ball in from 5 yards out. Although not renowned as a ‘big’ team, a major feature of the Centurions game has been rumbling, bumbling and stumbling up the middle. In the third quarter, Lee added his second TD, this time on the end of a precision pass from Holt from 5 yards out.
The game reached its climax with York driving the ball 80 yards downfield with less than 2 minutes on the clock. Holt himself revived Centurions’ hopes when they were beginning to fade, with a 26 yard scramble, breaking half a dozen tackles in the process. In scenes of great drama, a penalty gave York another attempt from 1 yard out even though time had expired. Unfortunately, Holt was forced out of the pocket and sacked. The Centurions may well rue trying to pass rather than run from so close. Once the initial disappointment had gone however, the visitors realised they had plenty to take away and will carry great hopes of causing an upset in Leeds this Sunday. Coach Gary Austen said that “the players were magnificent.”
Apparently magnificent just isn’t quite enough on the gridiron.
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