AT the end of May, there were question marks over York City Knights' ability to beat the leading contenders in League One after defeat at Newcastle left them eighth in the table.

However, they have since provided telling answers, with their excellent 26-16 victory over promotion hopefuls Swinton at Elmpark Way completing a 100 per cent record in June, which began with defeat of the then leaders Rochdale and has lifted James Ford's men to third in the table, now just two points off the summit after Keighley's loss in North Wales.

Believe it or not, a win at the new leaders, Oldham, next Sunday could see the Knights go top. Then again, they could tumble down again as the top seven in an increasingly tight play-off race are now separated by only three points.

Swinton are two points further back, in eighth, a position which belies their team on paper and Ford's belief they are arguably the best side in the division.

Yesterday's result, which avenged defeat at Park Lane in early May, could have been even more decisive but for missed conversions and the fact Brad Nicholson had a try controversially chalked off by referee Jon Roberts.

"If he had got the ball down any more we would have wanted five points for it," said Ford, Roberts having deemed the grounding to be incomplete.

The victory also showed that Ford's maturing team can come out on top in games that swing this way and that, with Swinton often looking dangerous when picking up the pace but never getting a roll on as York breathed in and hit back harder.

The Lions' apparent frustrations as the game wore on eventually told as Mick Govin was sent off for a dangerous high shot on Jordan Howden nine minutes from time. All the while York kept their discipline, so much so it was a bit curious how the penalty count ended almost even, at 8-6.

The Knights wanted a good start to the game but could hardly have dreamt of a better opening ten minutes.

Jordan Howden’s kick-off hit an upright and rebounded their way, Nicholson leaping highest to take it. Second-row Ed Smith was then put into a gap to open the scoring inside 60 seconds, Howden converting.

A penalty then gave the hosts the position to strike again, full-back Ben Dent skipping through.

It got worse for the visitors as Mike Morrison, one of Swinton's star props, lashed out at Pat Smith at dummy-half, and Howden booted the penalty.

York's good early work was partly undone when they allowed the restart to bounce back into Lions hands. With the defence struggling to regroup, Swinton injected pace and spread the ball left where Chris Atkin touched down.

After 12 eventful minutes, the game finally settled.

However, Swinton's discipline again let them down as they were penalised for the use of the elbow in a ruck while in possession.

It gave York not just the ball but another platform, and Howden's flamboyant dummy parted the defence like Moses parted the Red Sea.

The tide turned again when Dent's awful pass to Minikin in his own ten went to ground but the defence came to his rescue, Andy Thornley's overambitious pass flying out of bounds.

The Lions were back in it immediately after half-time.

After a cheap turnover on half-way, Richie Hawkyard nearly broke through, halted by Howden, and, from the play-the-ball, hooker Andy Ackers ran hard to the line, Ben White converting to make it 16-10.

Ed Smith, Kriss Brining and Greg Minikin all saw sight of the whitewash at the other end but Swinton stood strong and eyed an equaliser after a penalty took them upfield.

However, York countered with the try of the match.

Minikin gathered a loose ball from a kick and he, Jonny Presley and Nev Morrison all made ground. The winger was tackled near the by-line but the ball was quickly shifted left where James Clare ran home, Ben Dent converting.

The match-sealing try came midway through the half.

For a third time in the game, Lions winger Atkin patted down what would have been a scoring pass from Minikin to his winger, Morrison.

Before the scrum, visiting scrum-half Aaron Lloyd was stretchered off after an accidental collision in back play. After the scrum, Minikin opted to back himself and York's top-scorer got his 11th of the season.

Swinton thereafter forced things and their frustrations grew. It all came to a head - literally - on 71 minutes when Govin caught Howden high and hard.

He was immediately apologetic but was sent off anyway.

That should have been that, especially when, from the penalty, Nicholson slammed the ball over the try-line.

However, referee Roberts ruled it out and, two Swinton penalties later, Darren Hawkyard got over, White converting to make it 26-16.

If the 12 men had reaped reward from a third questionable penalty, York's fans could have been in for a nervy finale, but the defence held out and Pat Smith’s 40-20 saw the rest of the game played in Swinton territory.

 

MATCH FACTS

Knights: B Dent 8, Clare 8, Channing 8, Minikin 7, Morrison 8, Howden 8, Presley 7, Applegarth 8, P Smith 7, Aldous 9, E Smith 9, Tonks 8, Nicholson 8. Subs (all used): Brining 7, Cunningham 7, Blagborough 7, Learmonth 7.

Tries: Ed Smith 1; B Dent 6; Howden 26; Clare 54; Minikin 62.

Conversions: Howden 1; B Dent 54.

Penalty: Howden 10.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Swinton: R Hawkyard, Robinson, Littler, Rothwell, Atkin, White, Lloyd, M Morrison, Govin, D Hawkyard, Thackeray, Dwyer, Thornley. Subs (all used): James, Gallagher, Lever, Ackers.

Tries: Atkin 12; Ackers 42; D Hawkyard 74.

Conversions: White 42, 74.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: Govin 71.

Sin-binned: none.

Man of the match: Jack Aldous – the reigning Press Player of the Year gave one of his famed ‘Mr Duracell’ 80-minute performances in the heat of battle up top, winning contacts, being clean in possession and somehow getting the better of bigger men.

Referee: Jon Roberts (Leeds) – generally tried to stay on top of things but made a few calls video evidence may suggest were at least questionable.

Penalty count: 8-6

Half-time: 16-4

Weather: early clouds departed and the sun shone on Elmpark Way.

Attendance: 511

Moment of the match: York were being pinned back as Swinton, having pulled the scores back to 16-10, sought an equaliser, but tight defence saw the ball go loose. It was snapped up by Greg Minikin who, in tandem with Jonny Presley, made good ground down the right. Nev Morrison was tackled out wide but stayed in touch and the ball was quickly transferred along the line to the left where Swinton were short on numbers, allowing James Clare to run home and make it 22-10.

Gaffe of the match: York had enjoyed all the play in the opening ten minutes to build a 12-0 lead but they then allowed the restart to bounce back Swinton’s way and, as the Knights struggled to regroup, the Lions needed no second invitation to get on the scoreboard, Chris Atkin scoring to give the visitors a timely lift in a hectic opening spell.

Gamebreaker: Swinton, 26-16 down with five minutes left, were given two penalties and had a set and a half in the red zone, and a try then would have made for a tense finale. However, York’s defence held out, Ben Dent diving on a last-tackle kick in front of his own sticks. Then, at the end of a solid set, Pat Smith kicked a 40-20 and Swinton could find no way back upfield.

Match rating: excellent entertainment, with good tries, good speed, and enough roughness and edge to bring about a red card. It was another cracking result for York, too.