2 weeks Ago
MARK Applegarth is looking forward to locking horns with Widnes when the sides face off in the 1895 Cup quarter-finals this afternoon. The Knights return to home soil after fine wins at both Batley and Barrow over the last fortnight in what is a repeat of last season’s Play-off Eliminator. Tom Lineham’s hat-trick steered York to a 27-10 win last October, with Joe Law and Jesse Dee also crossing the whitewash and Liam Harris slotting over a drop-goal as the hosts pulled away in the second half.
The sides finished fourth and fifth respectively in last year’s Championship, with Applegarth believing they were very evenly matched. “I think they were very similar to us last year,” explained the Knights boss. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve played Widnes twice, once away and in the play-offs, and we were two very evenly matched teams.
It just went our way, fortunately for us. “But we’re under no illusions that they’ve improved. We’ve improved as well.
It’s a new season with new players as such as well, even though there’s a lot of old faces there, there’s some new players who have come into both teams. “I’m looking forward to locking horns with them again.” Widnes head into this weekend’s clash having made a bright start to the new season.
They sealed their spot in the cup quarter-finals with a narrow 28-26 win against Hunslet, whilst victories against Toulouse, Sheffield and Doncaster have left them sixth in the Championship table. “Widnes have started very well,” Applegarth continued. “I think they’re playing some really nice stuff at the moment and that’s credit to Allan [Coleman, coach] and his team.
“They’ve got some dangerous players, so we’ll have to do our homework on that. It’s knockout rugby as well. “We’re well aware of our threats too, so we’ve just got to make sure that we nail it on the day and may the best team win.
” Whilst the Knights head into the match off the back of a long trip to Cumbria, Widnes are rested after a bye weekend. Applegarth believes that whilst it is always good to give the players time to freshen up, he is the type of coach that would love to play every week. “I think it just depends on your injuries and things like that – but it’s always good to freshen players up, isn’t it? “For me, I want to play every week, I’d play every day if I could, but I’m not playing, am I! “It just depends on your squad balance and how many key players are carrying knocks.
It might have come at the right time for them. “I’m sure Allan won’t be complaining about taking the week off to freshen the squad up.”.
