HOMELESS York City Knights might have hit headlines for wrong reasons recently amid the off-field wrangling and associated fall-outs, but one constant positive throughout the turmoil has been provided by the people who should be centre of attention - James Ford and his players.

They again ignored the strife - and the loss of inspirational skipper James Haynes - to safely negotiate choppy waters and become the only League One side to sail into the sixth round of the Challenge Cup thanks to a 44-14 win against Leigh Miners Rangers at Leigh Sports Village.

They also had to overcome increased pressure to notch a fifth win in seven outings in all competitions.

Leigh Centurions had shocked Salford on this ground 24 hours earlier in front of Sky Sports cameras, and esteemed members of the national press were back eyeing a follow-up story.

Not only are Rangers currently the top amateur club in the land, beating York’s fellow League One outfit Oxford along the way, but the last time the Knights faced amateur opposition over the Pennines, Gary Thornton’s 2013 team needed a last-minute try to escape an upset against Blackbrook.

Moreover, it hasn’t gone unnoticed in the rugby league world that the Knights are having some issues.

Ford’s young troops, though, have acted with admirable professionalism and positivity throughout it all, an attitude instilled by a rookie coach who so far seems to be getting the best out of any situation - as well as his players.

Take Jonny Presley. He lost his place under Thornton but, with Ford backing his abilities rather than worrying about his flaws, he is again a confidence player able to score something out of nothing – which he did again here to help quash a Rangers revival.

Then take the Dent brothers.

Ben has been in and out, and, as last year’s top-scorer, he could be excused a sulk, especially following a couple of tickings-off.

But, replacing the crocked Haynes at full-back, he gave a thoroughly upbeat performance - highlighted by a few back-door passes in his own territory which had Ford simultaneously smiling and shaking his head.

Younger sibling Adam, meanwhile, came in for his first start this year and only his third in all, Tyler Craig having failed a fitness test.

Would he be a weak link to exploit? Just the opposite - not only doing a great job defensively on his own wing but providing cover for others with a couple of try-saving efforts. He also bagged a try.

It was the older brother who gave York the lead, yelling at Presley to delay his pass as he timed his run around the back to perfection for a superb full-back's try.

Dent also took on Haynes’ goal-kicking duties, successful with this conversion and five others.

Nev Morrison scored when Miners winger Harry Gagen was deceived by an awful bounce, before Brining opened his account to make 18-0 after 19 minutes.

A misunderstanding in centre-field between Josh Tonks and Ben Dent, though, gave Leigh good field position and quick hands created a try for winger Harry Gagen.

Then, on the back a break by the dangerous Brad Hargreaves, skipper Scott O’Brien skipped through, Jonny Youds goaling.

The momentum had shifted.

However, a simple but high-quality set - in which Brining, Ed Smith and Jack Pickles each got quick play-the-balls - swung it back, Brining taking his half-chance at the end of it.

Presley’s superb 35-metre solo effort made it 30-10 at half-time.

York had a scare after the resumption as Morrison had the ball stolen one-on-one by Adam Thomason.

However, Adam Dent smartly came inside to break up the attack and counter. Ed Smith’s offload had Presley juggling the ball but unable to hold on at the try-line.

There was no stopping Brining, though, as he mesmerised the defence again from dummy-half to complete a hat-trick on 50 minutes.

Fellow hooker Harry Carter had failed a late head test after concussion last week so Jack Iley remained as replacement hooker – but Brining was going so well that Iley didn’t get on until six minutes later, Brining soon returning to complete 70 minutes all told.

Pete Aspinall blasted through only to have a try rightly ruled out for a double movement.

Adam Dent then saved two Rangers tries. He forced Jack Probert into touch after the left-winger caught a kick in goal, then, following a Miners break down the right, he charged across-field to snuff out the danger.

His reward came after a howler by home full-back Youds, whose loose pass in his own 20 was scooped up by the winger.

Leigh replied following a brawl which started when York’s Pat Smith took exception to a late tackle.

No one was carded - punishment may yet come via video evidence - but the hosts had the penalty and a smart attack was finished by Thomason.

A knock-on quickly gave York good position, though, and Ed Smith crashed through, Greg Minikin's cover defence denying Leigh the last word.

 

Match stats

Miners: Youds, Gagen, Hargreaves, Thomason, Probert, Dowie, O’Brien, Astley, Jones, Kay, Jackson, Parkinson, Ratcliffe. Subs (all used): Doyle, Gray, Grimes, O’Boyle.

Tries: Gagen 28; O’Brien 32; Thomas 68.

Conversions: Youds 32.

Penalties: none.

Knights: B Dent 8, A Dent 8, Minikin 6, Cunningham 6, Morrison 6, Presley 7, P Smith 7, Applegarth 7, Brining 9, Aldous 6, Tonks 7, E Smith 6, Mallinder 6. Subs (all used): Iley 5, Roche 6, Aspinall 7, Pickles 6.

Tries: B Dent 12; Morrison 14; Brining 19, 36, 50; Presley 40; A Dent 62; E Smith 71.

Conversions: B Dent 12, 14, 19, 36, 40, 50.

Penalties: none.

Man of the match: Kriss Brining – superb hat-trick, all individual efforts from dummy-half, capped a fine all-round performance in which he got through 70 minutes of very good work at hooker, punctuated only by a brief breather on the bench.

Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven) – good.

Penalty count: 5-7.

Half-time: 10-30.

Weather: pleasant.

Attendance: 1,191.

Moment of the match: Nothing looked on when Jonny Presley took the ball 35 metres out, but a skip, a duck and a dart took him through the line and he carved a way around the full-back for a superb solo try on half-time which helped to quash a Miners comeback.

Gaffe of the match: Rangers full-back Jonny Youds blotted his copybook midway through the second half with a terribly loose pass into no man’s land, which allowed Adam Dent an easy try on his season’s bow – a touchdown the York winger fully deserved for all his good work in defence throughout the match.

Gamebreaker: Nerves were fluttering a bit when Leigh Miners pulled the score back from 18-0 to 18-10 after 32 minutes but the comeback was quashed when a simple but high-quality set ended with Kriss Brining’s second try, with Jonny Presley quickly following up with a superb solo effort to make it 30-10 at half-time.

Match rating: York were favourites but they still had a job to do to win the tie against an amateur side who could feasibly hold their own in League One, and they did it very professionally – taking early command, regaining momentum to quell a comeback and then seeing the game out well enough. Here’s hoping a plum sixth-round tie will be the reward.