YORK KNIGHTS coach Mark Applegarth hailed the club’s fans and promised an all-out bid to reward them with Grand Final success amid a push for a place in Super League.
Having claimed the Championship Leaders’ Shield, the in-form Knights have home advantage in their play-off semi-final against Halifax on Saturday – and if they make it, the showpiece contest on the weekend of October 4/5.
Applegarth is determined to go one better than last year, when York put up a real semi-final fight before losing 22-13 at eventual grand final winners Wakefield.
But despite 19 successive victories, including one over Featherstone at Wembley in the 1895 Cup final, he is taking nothing for granted.
He will keep in mind that a matter of months ago, York City, with whom the Knights share the LNER Stadium, went into football’s National League play-offs having finished 13 points better off in the final table than the next highest of the other five teams involved – but slumped 3-0 at home to Oldham Athletic in the semi-finals.
What he is sure of is the continued backing of the supporters, who saw their side finish the regular season with a 52-12 home win against Batley ahead of a blank weekend while the two play-off eliminators were completed.
“The noise coming from the stands at our games has been unbelievable, and it’s a privilege to play in front of supporters creating that kind of atmosphere,” he said.
“Grounds have been buzzing, and we can’t over-emphasise how much the support means to us.
“The players and I are happy we have been giving them something to sing about and enjoy, but the job isn’t done, there’s plenty of work still, and we’re not so arrogant as to think it’s just going to happen for us.
“Any side in these play-offs can beat any of the others on their day, and we’ll have to be at our best.”