York Knights 54-12 Dewsbury Rams: Match Report

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York Knights scored 10 tries including two from the retiring Jimmy Keinhorst to ease past Dewsbury Rams at the LNER Community Stadium in the Betfred Championship.

The biggest cheer of the day came on the final whistle as Keinhorst finished his career with a flourish with a converted try.

A dominant first half built the platform for the win against the bottom of the table Rams side to keep York within two points of the top six.

Injuries forced a number of changes to the Knights, with both Joe Law and Jack Martin coming in for debuts and AJ Towse returning after almost three months out. 

However York still got off to the ideal start when Joe Law scored on his debut inside four minutes. The on-loan centre collected a pass from Nikau Williams to go in, and Ata Hingano added the extras.

The Knights defence was soon tested, as Bailey O’Connor broke clear. The set ended with O’Connor providing a pass for former Knight Perry Whiteley to squeeze in by the corner flag. Turner converted to level the scores.

The Knights soon retook the lead with Williams again the provider. Jordan Thompson hit a good line at speed to exploit a gap. Hingano’s conversion drifted just wide. 

A spell where the York started to get on top followed and it was capped off with a lovely piece of skill from Joe Brown. 

After taking a Williams pass, he dummied his way past the last defender to stroll over. Hingano’s conversion was again just wide. 

The Knights were still having the better of the possession and territory, but Dewsbury were up for the battle.

However when James Cunningham sold a huge dummy from acting half near the line, nobody could stop him. Hingano’s goal opened up a 14 point advantage.

The Knights scored again before the break, with AJ Towse on the end of a move for a try on his return from injury to build an 18 point lead. 

York started the second half how they ended the first with a dominant period that saw Brendan Santi and then Brad Ward held up over the line. 

Ward almost scored shortly afterwards but with the Dewsbury defenders around him he flicked the ball back inside for Jimmy Keinhorst to score in his last game before retiring from rugby league. Hingano was successful from the touchline with the conversion.

The Knights were still on top, restricting Dewsbury’s opportunities, and they took advantage of that when Joe Brown went in for his second of the game. Hingano provided the pass and tagged on the conversion.

With 15 minutes to go, Bailey Antrobus came on to the field to a huge cheer from the fans after almost a year out with injury and immediately made an impact with two huge tackles.

As the half wore on chances for either side were few and far between but York’s defence still didn’t look too troubled by what Dewsbury were trying to create.

What had become a deadlock broke with nine minutes to go as Brad Ward dived into the corner to bring up the 40 point mark. Hingano landed a huge touchline conversion.  

Bailey O’Connor scored to reduce the scoreboard deficit for Dewsbury, and Callum Turner added the goal but the game belonged firmly to York.

Will Jubb dived in beneath the posts from acting half for another Knights try and Keinhorst took over the kicking duties to add the goal.

Keinhorst then got the fairytale ending to his career as York kept the ball alive while the hooter sounded for full time.

An error from Dewsbury allowed the ball to bounce free and Keinhorst pounced to finish his time in rugby league with a converted try and a huge roar from the home supporters.

York: Brown, Ward, Keinhorst, Law, Towse, Hingano, Williams, Michael, Jubb, Martin, Bailey, Gannon, Thompson

Subs (all used): Teanby, Santi, Cunningham, Antrobus

18th Player: Field

Tries: Law (4), Thompson (13), Brown (21, 54), Cunningham (33), Towse (38), Keinhorst (48, 80), Ward (71), Jubb (77)

Goals: Hingano (5/8), Keinhorst (2/2)

Dewsbury: O’Connor, Carr, Graham, Walker, Whiteley, Turner, Hookem, Morris, Butterworth, Silk, Garside, Summers, Dawson

Subs (all used): Dixon, Briggs, Mearns, Tomlinson

18th Player: Corion

Tries: Whiteley (9), O’Connor (74)

Goals: Turner (2/2)

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