YORK City Knights' Grand Final hopes were dealt a cruel blow as they slipped to a 25-18 defeat against Sheffield Eagles.

A pedestrian opening spell, the loss of Scott Rhodes, some costly errors and a spirited Eagles' attack all combined to hand York a heart-breaking defeat.

York did cross for three tries, but four from the visitors, plus four successful goals and a drop goal from Gavin Brown, sealed the Knights' fate.

And in all fairness, Sheffield probably did enough to deserve the victory and always seemed to have something extra up their collective sleeve if needed. They knocked the Knights out of their stride from the off and forced their hosts into making mistakes.

The Knights found themselves making the worst possible start being 10-0 down and without the services of Rugby League World player of the month Rhodes - stretchered off after a sickening looking knee injury - all in the first 11 minutes.

Former Bramley duo Andy Poynter and Tom O'Reilly crossed for the opening tries to put the Eagles clear.

Gavin Brown and Papau New Guinea international O'Reilly teamed up to put Poynter over after just four minutes, with Brown converting. And then a real comedy of errors saw O'Reilly register his first of the match.

From a scrum ten metres from their own line, Brough was forced to scoop up his own attempted pass before firing the ball past Alex Godfrey.

The York-born wingman did his best to stop the ball going out of play on the right, but in hindsight he really should have let it go. Instead, his wild flick back missed Mark Cain and bobbled over the line for O'Reilly to pounce.

The Knights came back into the game and started to pressure the Eagles on their own line, without getting the reward their exciting attacking play deserved.

Darren Callaghan, Cain, Brough and Mick Ramsden all tried forcing their way through, to no avail.

However, a piece of pure magic by Rob Kama on 29 minutes saw the Knights back into the game. The ex-York RU winger stepped in off the left flank and showed some electric pace from 30 metres out to leave the Eagles' defence in his wake for a try, with full-back Poynter left rooted to the spot. Brough converted.

Eagles bounced back with an O'Reilly try - the centre stepping in off the left flank to cut through - five minutes later, but York crossed for their second when Brough showed brilliant vision from a scrum in his own half to produce a perfectly weighted kick to which Godfrey won the foot race. Brough converted to see the Knights trail by 14-12.

York were dealt a harsh blow when Godfrey was sin-binned on the stroke of the half-time interval. Second row Craig Brown had broken through the Knights' defence and although Godfrey and Jonny Woodcock had hauled him down short, Godfrey was guilty in referee Andy Leonard's eyes of a professional foul by flopping on the man for a second time.

Starting a man down did not affect Paul Broadbent's men as free-scoring Neil Law powered over two would-be Sheffield tacklers to put York in front at 16-14. Unfortunately, whereas in previous games, the Knights have been able to kick on from here and force home their advantage, they were unable to do so in the face of some relentless Sheffield pressure.

The lead lasted just six minutes as Gavin Brown levelled matters with a penalty from 25 metres out, and then moved the Eagles 18-16 up when Ramsden was caught holding down.

Brough responded with a penalty of his own, but York were made to pay for another of their own mistakes. A huge 'bomb' from Gavin Brown was missed completely by full-back Woodcock, allowing his opposite number Poynter to scoop up the ball and score his second.

Brown's conversion was followed by a simple drop goal to move Sheffield 25-18 in front entering the final ten minutes.

Despite forcing their way forward, the Knights could find no way through. The score could have been worse for York as Mark Ashton crossed only for the ref to rule a forward pass.

Match facts:

Knights: Woodcock 5, Godfrey 6, Cain 6, Law 7, Kama 8, Rhodes 6, Brough 5, Hayes 6, Jackson 6, Forsyth 7, Ramsden 6, Callaghan 6, Krause 7.

Subs: Hallas 6, Briggs 6, Burland 6, Riddell 6.

Tries: Kama 29m, Godfrey 38m, Law 45m

Goals: Brough 29m, 38m 64m. DG: None.

Sin-bins: Alex Godfrey 40m

Eagles: Poynter, Weller, Turnbull, O'Reilly, Hurst, Brown, Aston, Howieson, Stanley, Bruce, Raleigh, Brown, Flynn.

Subs: Goddard, Tillyer, Kite, Stringer.

Tries: Poynter 4m, 66m, O'Reilly 11m, 34m.

Goals: G Brown 4m, 51m, 55m, 66m.

DG: G Brown 71m.

Sin-bins: None.

Man of the match: Rob Kama. The ex-York RU winger produced electric moments of attacking brilliance and steel to his defence.

Referee: Andy Leonard

Penalty count: 13-13

HT: 12-14

Attendance: 1,301

Updated: 11:13 Monday, July 28, 2003