Last week was not a great one for people living in York.

Terry's announced it was shutting up its famous landmark factory, York City were staring non-league football full in the face, and even York's one final bastion of pride - the Knights - lost.

One week on, with the city's football league club now doomed, all eyes turned to the Knights to offer some sporting respectability.

The odds may have been against them in many ways. They were playing a National League One side for the fourth time in as many weeks and were now the favourites after taking a three-out-of-three record into the game. They were trailing 18-12 at half time. And it really has not been a good weekend for Yorkshire sport.

But the Knights found that extra something to earn a fourth successive win over Rovers and earn a visit to Halifax - another National One side - in the quarter-finals proper.

Going into the game, coach Richard Agar had said he was looking more to the performance than the result following last week's disappointment - and he came away with both.

Apart from a few shaky moments in the first half where Featherstone appeared to be able to break through gaps at will, the defence was strong and solid.

Scott Walker and loan-signing Rich Wilson were particularly impressive, while Nathan Graham had yet another classy showing at full back and Danny Brough put so much into one second-half tackle that Rovers full back Craig Moss was taken to hospital with his arm in a sling.

Going forward, both sides took a shine to a kick-and-run game in the opening exchanges but it was Brough who perfected the art with a sweet 40-20 setting up a charge that saw Aaron Wood - back in the team after a three-match absence - go agonisingly close before knocking on a final lay-off intended for Mark Stewart.

And it was Brough's last tackle kick that created Damian Ball's effectively match-winning try in the 65th minute, although Featherstone wing Jamie Stokes was the one left with egg on his face after fumbling the catch, allowing Stewart to snatch it and pass off to Ball to sprint over.

That made the score 24-18, Brough's conversion sailed over to stretch it further beyond reach and Scott Rhodes' controversial 75th minute drop goal which appeared to miss, but was given anyway sealed it 27-18 in the Knights' favour to earn them a place in the quarter-finals.

But it could have been very different, with Featherstone in control for the entire first half, going into the turn around 18-12 up.

The Knights got the first points on the board when Graham crashed over in the second minute from a Scott Rhodes pass and Brough duly converted to chalk up a 6-0 lead for the home side.

But the teams were level again within five minutes when stand off Richard Blakeway dashed through a gap in the Knights line and in-form Stuart Dickens, who was on target throughout the game, added the extras.

Brough edged York back in front with a 25-yard penalty but the tables were turned once again when a long pass right opened a gap in the York line for Adam Hayes to hand off to centre Steve Dooler for the score.

Rovers' kicking prop Dickens added the extras and extended the lead to 14-8 from a penalty on 25 minutes.

But York simply could not be kept down and Chris Langley completed a sweet move featuring Rhodes and Ball to keep them within two points of the visitors, with Brough's goal attempt going wide.

The scoreline favoured National League One Rovers by six points at the interval after two more Dickens penalties, but that was where the scoring ended for them.

Brough closed the gap with a penalty soon after half time and substitute Jim Elston powered through three tackles to score on 56 minutes and Brough kicked the Knights two points in front.

The 1,202 crowd found their voices and lit up Huntington Stadium on a day of sunshine and passionately urged York ever forward.

Dooler looked to have scored a second Rovers try on 63 minutes but was surrounded by three York men who stopped him grounding the ball and the Knights continued their surge as Stewart and Ball combined for York's fourth and final try.

The ever-present Rhodes was as shocked as everyone else when his 75th minute drop goal was awarded despite going wide, but it just added an extra gloss to a much-improved Knights.

It may only be a minor cup win but it's a good foundation for the Knights' National League Two charge - and that would certainly be something to be proud of.

Knights: Graham 7, Walker, 7, Langley 7, Wood 6, Stewart 8, Rhodes 8, Brough 7, Wilson 7, Jackson 6, Sozi 8, Callaghan 7, Friend 8, Ball 8. Subs (all used): Elston 7, Cain 6, J Smith 6, Forsyth 7.

Tries: Graham 2, Langley 27, Elston 56, Ball 65.

Conversions: Brough 2, 56, 65.

Penalties: Brough 9, 42.

Drop goal:Rhodes 75.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Rovers: Moss, Stokes, Dooler, Batty, Wray, Blakeway, Presley, Tonks, Darley, Dickens, Henare, Lowe, Hayes. Subs (all used): Archibald, Briggs, Jarrett, Chapman.

Tries: Blakeway 5, Dooler 15.

Conversions: Dickens 5, 15.

Penalties: Dickens 25, 33, 36.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Damian Ball - finished off a good move for the final try and was strong throughout, having a hand in Langley's try.

HT: 12-18

Ref: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield)

Rating: Rumoured to be of Super League calibre but seemed to lack consistency, much to Fev's displeasure.

Penalty Count: 9-6

Gamebreaker: Damian Ball's try took a close game to a one-horse race and Rovers were clearly never going to recover.

Attendance: 1,202

Weather watch: Positively springlike, warm, dry and sunny.

Match rating: Just what the doctor ordered for the Knights and the city.

Updated: 10:20 Monday, April 26, 2004