York Knights 16-6 Featherstone Rovers: Match Report

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A piece of individual skill from York Knights captain, Liam Harris helped secure a 16-6 win over Featherstone Rovers in the Betfred Championship, and with it a home tie in the play-off eliminators.

First half tries from Harris and Joe Brown helped build a narrow four point lead at half time, after Featherstone had gone in front early on.

With chances hard to come by for both teams in the second half, some wonderful work from Harris clinched the game with just six minutes remaining.

It means the Knights finish fourth in the table, and will host Widnes Vikings in the first round of the play-offs.

Featherstone opened the scoring early, on the back of a penalty for a high tackle just 20 metres out. They capitalised when Josh Hardcastle hit the defensive line and spun through to ground the ball. Former Knight, Ben Reynolds added the goal.

Gareth Gale looked to have extended Rovers’ lead when he crossed in the corner, only for it to be chalked off as Featherstone were deemed offside from a kick in the build up. 

In the next set, York moved the ball upfield, and with the tackle count re-set, captain Liam Harris weaved his way through for the Knight’s first try. Williams converted to level the score.

A spell where the game moved from end to end followed, with neither side having any clear cut chances. The Knights’ best opportunity went to Brendan Santi only for his effort to be ruled out. 

Not long before half-time, a barnstorming run from Jordan Thompson set the Knights up near the posts. Harris moved play to the right and Joe Brown’s flying finish saw him squeeze the ball down in the corner. It was too far out for Williams to tag on the extras so York took a narrow four point lead into the break. 

It was still a tight affair as the second half got underway, with both sides again missing chances to score. 

WIth a quarter of the game to go, Featherstone enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure in the York half.

However, York’s defence stood firm, and with ten minutes to go, were still having to deal with the majority of play being in their own half.

When the second half deadlock broke, it came from a piece of magic from Harris.

After shrugging off an attempted tackle, he weaved his way past three defenders to score beneath the posts, leaving an easy conversion for Williams to put York ten points ahead with six minutes to go.

Featherstone continued to have the better of the possession and territory in the final minutes, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Knights a memorable win. 

York: Williams, Brown, Field, Law, Lineham, Hingano, Harris, Martin, Jubb, Ta’ai, Dee, Bailey, Thompson

Subs (all used): Santi, Michael, Daley, Cunningham

18th Player: Cook

Tries: Harris (17, 72), Brown (36)

Goals: Williams (2/3)

Featherstone: Aekins, Gale, Hardcastle, Minikin, Wynne, Reynolds, Lacans, Lockwood, Jones, Nakubuwai, Day, Bussey, Beckett

Subs (all used): Springer, Albert, Arnold, Eden

18th Player: Jeffrey

Tries: Hardcastle (6)

Goals: Reynolds (1/1)

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