THE final hooter at Huntington Stadium yesterday would normally have been greeted with cheers and an anticipation of what the fourth round of the Challenge Cup would bring.

York City Knights had gained revenge over Villeneuve with a 28-8 third-round victory, denying the French champions a Huntington hat-trick following their wins over York Wasps in 2001 and 2002.

Instead, however, it was tinged with melancholy as chairman Roger Dixon took hold of the microphone to explain to the crowd that veteran prop - and one of York's all-time greats - Rich Hayes was retiring after this game.

The explanation had been needed as a few minutes earlier, following the Knights' penultimate try, the man with the mike pronounced the now (in)famous words, "Come on, Knights fans, make some noise" - and followed this by saying, "Come on, it's Richie Hayes' last game."

With that, rather than "making some noise", the cheers immediately stopped, the ground went quiet, and everyone looked at everyone else in puzzlement.

What few people knew was that Hayes had been suffering with a severe shoulder problem for some time - not that anyone noticed - and felt unable to continue his illustrious career beyond this weekend.

Coach Richard Agar was aware of Hayes' intentions, but his team-mates only found out a few minutes before kick-off as he implored them to help him go out on a winning note.

That was the least he deserved, and a fine battling second half display ensured that was what he got.

It had needed to be a good second half show as well, as the Knights had not taken full advantage of the strong, and ridiculously cold, gale that blew down-field.

They went in 14-6 up, but there were fears this might not be enough as the kicking abilities of Villeneuve player-coach Brad Davis, the ex-York Wasps ace, was well known to the home faithful.

Those fears were quashed, however, as the Knights defence closed him down so well they were virtually in his socks, while back-markers Nathan Graham and Alex Godfrey had the 40-20 option well covered.

Furthermore, the one-on-one tackling improved and the Leopards, not really showing enough guile to threaten, barely got close to the Knights' line.

Indeed, York could have scored more in the second half before they finally made the game safe with two late tries through Jim Elston and Simon Friend, both goaled by Danny Brough. Elston, who had replaced injured stand-off Scott Rhodes after 20 minutes, scored his try from acting-half with a darting, arced run, while Friend marked his full debut by powering over in stoppage-time.

Rhodes had opened the scoring on seven minutes after Mark Cain's clever kick down the flank had forced Villeneuve's former Salford full-back Jason Webber to palm the ball out. From the scrum, Rhodes took the pass, ran round and, after his man slipped to open a gap, cantered over.

Brough converted but, almost immediately at the other end, Laurent Carrasco sliced through a gap, with simple hands feeding the ball right for Regis Barre to score on an overlap.

A clever kick from Brough just evaded winger Rob Kama in the in-goal but, other than that, Villeneuve - with props Unaloto Lamelagi and the rampaging Philip Stead superb - had perhaps looked the more dangerous, and they deservedly drew level on 26 minutes when Jerome Hermet booted a penalty for a high tackle.

Nevertheless, Brough, earlier denied a 40-20 by a touch judge, had his reward when he booted a penalty for offside, and this was soon followed by the Knights' second try - which was instigated by Kama in a way only Kama can.

The flamboyant Fijian had been deceived by a crazy bounce when fielding a kick just inside his own half, but beat the attacker to the ball, volleyed it 30 yards forward and somehow got to it first again, being fouled in the process.

Following the penalty, big Craig Forsyth charged on to a short pass to somehow pile-drive his way over from ten yards. Brough goaled.

The lead was extended as Forsyth took a high restart against the head and, after Villeneuve were caught offside, Brough booted the penalty.

Davis bought a penalty at the other end for holding down - which was ironic as the French had been doing that all game - and Hermet goaled, but that's where the comeback ended.

The half proved scrappy, due in parts to the icy wind blowing one way, the bright eye-level sun shining the other, and a few unforced errors. But it was the visitors who made the bulk of the mistakes, and York gleaned control.

John Smith went close, while Davis helped bring down Chris Langley close to the line - notable by the fact the Aussie had barely been able to stand seconds earlier after a bout of concussion.

Davis' next involvement was to throw a punch at Graham in the tackle, but referee Ashley Klein decided to keep his cards in his pocket. Either that or he'd forgotten them again, following last week's farce.

Fair play to the Aussie official, he did win praise from the crowd when he eventually awarded York a penalty for holding down. Or was it sarcastic cheers?

Either way, it mattered little as York had the necessary control and made the game safe with that late double.

Knights: Graham 7, Godfrey 7, Langley 6, Cain 6, Kama 7, Rhodes 6, Brough 7, Hayes 7, Jackson 8, Sozi 7, Friend 8, Callaghan 7, Ball 8. Subs (all used): Elston 7, J Smith 8, Ramsden 6, Forsyth 8.

Tries: Rhodes 7; Forsyth 35; Elston 76; Friend 80.

Conversions: Brough 7, 35, 76, 80.

Penalties: Brough 30, 41.

Drop goal: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Villeneuve: Webber, Charles, Bentley, Hermet, Barre, Van Snick, Davis, Shead, Wulf, Lamelagi, Bentley, Sabatie, Carrasco. Subs (all used): Gauffre, Bemays, Stacul, Jatz

Tries: Barre 9.

Conversions: None.

Penalties: Hermet 27, 46.

Drop goal: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match:

Craig Forsyth - made a lot of yardage, scored a fine try, threw a few dummies and worked hard in defence.

HT: 14-6

Referee: Ashley Klein (London)

Rating: Nothing so controversial it overly affected the game.

Penalty Count: 10-5

Game breaker: York's half-time team-talk - Villeneuve never looked likely to score after the break despite having the wind advantage.

Attendance: 1,203

Weather watch: icy cold down-pitch wind and bright eye-level sun

Match rating: a bit error-strewn but Knights deserved the win

Updated: 10:38 Monday, February 09, 2004