YORK City Knights survived a second-half Bradford Bulls fightback to win 30-28 at Odsal and join their hosts level on 32 points at the top of the Betfred League One table.

In yet another enthralling, nail-biting thriller, the Knights held on for the spoils after shocking their hosts by building a first-half 24-0 lead - Judah Mazive's length-of-the-field try then stemming the second-half tide as John Kear's men blasted a way back.

Bradford still had the chance to equalise in the last minute, but Dane Chisholm's conversion attempt drifted wide.

It had been another incredible Knights game.

The Knights had got off to a flier. Josh Johnson squeezed his way over in the sixth minute and Ben Cockayne powered through a gap in the Bulls’ defence for the second, with Connor Robinson adding the extras both times.

Robinson’s only missed conversion of the day came after Mazive, notching his 14th try of the season, crossed down the right wing from Jake Butler-Fleming’s neat pass following Robinson’s superb 40-20 kick

But he added the extras from Joe Batchelor’s try five minutes later and then added a penalty for the 24-point lead inside half an hour.

Ben Cockayne’s dump tackle sparked a flare-up between the sides which was settled fairly swiftly.

With two minutes of the half remaining, Bulls finally got on the board when Dalton Grant squeezed into the corner to reduce to deficit to 20 points going into the break.

They came out a different side in the second half and, with the home crowd getting vociferous, narrowed the gap to two points with three converted tries in 11 minutes courtesy of Gregg McNally, Ross Peltier and Ethan Ryan’s superb touchdown.

With the Knights on the back foot, a storming 80-metre try from Mazive, after another Jake Butler-Fleming assist, gave the visitors some breathing room.

Grant looked sure to cut the gap again but dropped the ball over York’s try-line. He soon made amends with a minute remaining to make it 30-28, but Chisholm - whose second-half kicking game had been superb - could not goal the difficult kick from the touchline this time.

Bulls: McNally, Ryan, Oakes, Johnson, Grant, Keyes, Chisholm, Crossley, Hallas, Bustin, Minchella, Garside, Wood. Subs: Flanagan, Green, Peltier, Kirk.

Knights: Marsh, Robson, Butler-Fleming, Hey, Mazive, Cockayne, Robinson, Johnson, Ellis, Walne, Batchelor, Scott, Spears. Subs: Carter, Horne, Ormondroyd, Porter.

Full report to follow.