Angry coach rails at 'bad attitude'

10:29am Monday 26th May 2008

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ANGRY assistant-coach James Ratcliffe labelled York City Knights' 20-20 draw with lowly London Skolars as their worst performance of the campaign.

The share-all with Co-operative National League Two's basement side at Huntington Stadium came only seven days after a 40-30 triumph over leaders Keighley Cougars.

Ratcliffe accused his players of failing to show Skolars any respect.

"I've asked the players to have a look at themselves," he said.

"That was probably the worst performance of the season from us as a team.

"It's all about attitude and they've not come up with the right attitude. The word is written in big letters on the wall of the changing room, but the players have not applied that and we've been caught short.

"It all goes down to individual effort and I've found out something about them in this game - some of them are selfish.

"They've not given London the respect they deserve as a professional team."

He added: "Everything we've been doing so well in the last few weeks - like our line speed and willingness to work hard - has not been in evidence in this game.

"Apart from Ryan Esders and Rob Spicer, everyone needs to take a long look at themselves.

"Against Keighley we had a completion rate of 98 per cent in the first half and 87 per cent in the second half. This week we came in at 35 per cent and 51 per cent.

"For a team that had got 130 points in the last three games, we didn't look like we knew how to get over the line. We panicked on the line.

"The only positive is that we've only dropped one point and not three."

Meanwhile, full-back Lee Mapals was replaced by David Leeke for disciplinary reasons.

Said Ratcliffe: "We needed him to look at his attitude. He is starting to believe his own press.

"Nobody is indispensable."

Mapals was a try scorer as the club's Reserve Grade Academy side drew 32-32 with Batley Bulldogs at Mount Pleasant on Saturday.

It was the Knights second string's third draw of the campaign - and their second against the Bulldogs. The Knights' other try scorers were winger Dale Ferris, centre Mark Wilson, substitute Tom Harrison, second-rower Steve Grundy and prop Dan Hunter.

Wilson kicked one conversion and Ferris was successful with three kicks.

Coach Paul Higgins said: "We went there with only 16 players and it was an outstanding performance from the lads."