York Knights won the inaugural Amsterdam Challenge, beating Hull KR by 26-12 at the NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam.
Both coaches named large squads for the game, in what was the first pre-season run out for both clubs.
Knight’s coach, Mark Applegarth will be pleased with what he saw from his players, as they outscored their opponents by five tries to two.
Those tries included efforts from Levi Edwards and Myles Harrison on their return from injuries.
The Knights opened the scoring early in the game, after a long ball out to the left set up a good position. Jesse Dee capitalised from the next set, exploiting a gap in the Rovers’ defence to score. Dagger added the goal.
York looked like they’d get the next points of the game, putting pressure on in the Robins’ 10 metre zone. However, Louix Gorman had other ideas, and intercepted to sprint away for the Super League club’s first try. Danny Richardson converted.
A spell of pressure from York then paid off. A scruffy pass from Hingano fell at the feet of Edwards, who hacked it forward to touch down.
It was half an hour in before Rovers’ next chance came, when Leo Tennison bulldozed his way over from close range. Richardson converted and Hull KR went in front for the first time.
York thought they’d taken the lead shortly before half time, when Hingano won the race to a grubber kick from Liam Harris only to have the try ruled out. It led to the Hingano being shown a yellow card for dissent, and he headed to the sin bin.
With York a man down, Rovers’ went close, first with a mazy run from Laulu-Togaga’e and then solid work from Bill Leyland, only for some strong goal line defence to deny them and keep the two point difference at the break.
The second half started with back to back tries from York. Consecutive sets ended with Liam Harris forcing his way over near the posts, to set up an easy conversion for Dagger.
Then three minutes later, the ball was shipped to the left and Myles Harrison dived over in the corner. Harris took over the kicking duties, but couldn’t add the conversion from the touchline.
Chances for Rovers were limited, and despite some barnstorming runs from their forwards, the Knights’ defence kept passing the tests.
Connor Bailey was the next to score, as the Knights again found space in the Hull KR defence. He took a well weighted pass from Cook, and strolled in to extend the lead. Harrison was the next to have a go with the conversions, and he added the further two points.
An error from the restart immediately put York under pressure near their own line and Broadbent went close for Rovers, only to fumble the high kick from Richardson and knock on behind the line.
A high shot from Jesse Dee meant York saw the game out with 12 men after he was sent to the sin bin, but Rovers couldn’t take advantage and the Knights’ defence remained strong to see them through to the final whistle.
Hull KR: Broadbent, Horne, Gorman, Barley, Kershaw, Laulu-Togaga’e, RIchardson, Brown, Leyland, Doro, Tanginoa, Ruan, Fishwick
Subs (all used): Ellis, Watts, Wallace, Tennison, Tchamambe, Powell
Tries: Gorman (9), Tennison (32)
Goals: Richardson (2/2)
York: Dagger, Brown, Buchanan, Edwards, Ward, Hingano, Harris, Martin, McShane, Thompson, Dee, Bailey, Gannon
Subs (all used): Cook, Santi, Hudson, Field, Fitzsimmons, Law, Pemberton, Harrison, Ferreira, Teanby
Tries: Dee (3), Edwards (22), Harris (43), Harrison (46), Bailey (66)
Goals: Dagger (2/3) Harris (0/1), Harrison (1/1)
Sin Bin: Hingano (37), Dee (76)
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