Whitehaven 0-40 York Knights: Match Report

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Nikau Williams got a hat-trick in his 100th career appearance as York Knights got a fourth consecutive win in the Betfred Championship.

The 40-0 win at Whitehaven keeps them in the hunt for the play off places, still two points outside the top six.

Both Williams and Joe Law scored a brace in the first half, giving Whitehaven too much work to do.

With further tries in the second half from Brendan Santi, Jack Martin and Williams’ third, the points headed back to North Yorkshire.

Williams opened the scoring after just three minutes, taking the pass from AJ Towse who had broken clear. 

Williams couldn’t convert his own try but he made sure with a penalty attempt seven minutes later, after Whitehaven were penalised for a late tackle 20 metres out from the posts. 

The Knights almost extended their lead when Law went close but he couldn’t take the pass from Ata Hingano.

A scrappy spell then followed with neither side able to create anything and the Knights dealing with anything Whitehaven could throw at them. 

Eventually, more points came when Joe Law scored off a Brad Ward pass after a great chip through from Hingano. 

Minutes later, Law was in again after more work from Hingano, dancing his way past the defence to score his second.

Before the break, York scored through Williams, going in again against his former club, finding space in the defence from 10 metres out. His conversion brought a 20 point lead. 

The Knights extended that lead just two minutes after half time when Brendan Santi burrowed his way under the tacklers on the line. Williams added the goal. 

Whitehaven kept battling and had plenty of possession but couldn’t breach the Knights tryline with the game again becoming scrappy.

It was a penalty which gave York a chance to stretch their lead when a high shot on Will Jubb saw Williams add an extra two. 

With Whitehaven still trying to find a way through, Oli Field made a break to ease pressure and a few moves later, Jack Martin followed his own grubber kick to touch down. Williams’ conversion gave York a 34-0 advantage.

Whitehaven thought they’d scored through Lachlan Hannighan, but the referee deemed the ball had come loose as he tried to ground it.

With just seconds left on the clock, Williams found a way to complete his hat-trick and get  York’s seventh try of the afternoon. WIll Jubb took over the kicking duties to bring up the 40 point mark.

Whitehaven: Romeo, Shaw, Evans, Teare, Walsh, Ackroyd, Hanneghan, Castle, Newton, Ainley, Corkill, McCarron, Worthington

Subs: Carter, Gebbie, King, Singleton

18th Player:

Tries: None

Goals: None

York: Brown, Ward, Law, Field Towse, Hingano, Williams, Michael, Jubb, Martin, Bailey, Gannon, Cunningham

Subs: Teanby, Santi, Daley, Antrobus

18th Player: Reynolds

Tries: Williams (3, 37,79), Law (29, 34), Santi (42), Martin (71)

Goals: Williams (5/8), Jubb (1/1)

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