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York Knights fell to a heartbreaking 22-18 defeat to Widnes Vikings at the LNER Community Stadium after conceding two tries in the final 10 minutes.
York were in total control at the break, having racked up a 14-0 lead thanks to Conor Fitzsimmons and Joe Brown tries.
Widnes and the Knights exchanged scores early in the second period through Matty Fozard and Jimmy Keinhorst respectively before the Vikings rallied to score three times in the final 15 minutes, with Kieran Dixon bagging a double and Mike Butt delivering the match-winner.
York had dominated the early territory and were eventually rewarded for their persistent pressure through Fitzsimmons.
The front-rower crashed onto a drop-off pass by Will Jubb close to the Widnes line, with stand-in full-back Taylor Pemberton adding the conversion.
Pemberton sent York into a two-score lead thanks to a penalty goal on the half-hour mark after Widnes were caught offside in their own 10.
The Knights capped a superb first-half display with a second try when Brown picked up a low Pemberton pass before some wonderful footwork saw the winger beat a couple of defenders and twist over the line.
A third Pemberton goal put York 14-0 ahead at the break.
Widnes returned fire in the second half, cutting the gap back down to eight points when Fozard hit a short ball from Tom Gilmore close to the tryline.
The assister stepped up to land his first of three conversions from four attempts.
York responded just five minutes later however, with Jesse Dee delivering a magnificent wide pass, after replacing Ata Hingano - who came off for a HIA - in the halves, for Keinhorst to touch down.
A double from ex-Knight Dixon got Widnes within just two points of York, turning the tide of the contest.
A cut-out pass from Gilmore sent the winger over for his first try before the former London Broncos star dotted down a Lloyd miss-out ball in the left corner.
With three minutes left, Widnes delivered a well-worked scrum set play to put Butt in at the right flank for the match-winning try.
York: Pemberton, Brown, Field, Keinhorst, Ward, Hingano, Potter, Ta’ai, Jubb, Fitzsimmons, Dee, Bailey, Thompson
Subs (all used): Teanby, Santi, Daley, Severs
18th Player: Michael
Tries: Fitzsimmons (16’), Brown (36’), Keinhorst (57’)
Goals: Pemberton (3/4)
Widnes: Owens, Butt, Fleming, Roberts, Dixon, Lyons, Gilmore, Kirk, Fozard, Murray, Lloyd, Wilde, Johnstone
Subs (all used): Bent, Walker, Roby, Bailey
18th Player: Brookes
Tries: Fozard (51’), Dixon (64’, 71’), Butt (77’)
Goals: Gilmore (3/4)
