WHAT this remarkable game did not need was for a referee to decide the outcome.

But that is effectively what happened when a decision against York City Knights prop Adam Robinson in the dying seconds inside the Bradford half gave Bulls half-back Joe Keyes the chance to win it with his THIRD penalty goal in the last quarter.

For some reason, the kick was taken inside York’s half and it was a good one, to the cheers of the travelling faithful in the David Longhurst Stand. The final hooter had already sounded. The scoreboard ticked to 22-20.

The former world champions celebrated like they had won silverware, not like they had just scraped a win over part-time opponents on the opening day of the League One season.

For the Knights, undeserved agony. They had also had two tries controversially disallowed.

A dramatic game had swung this way and that. York took first blood. Bradford led 16-8 just after half-time. York fought back to lead 19-18 after 68 minutes.

Keyes then kicked his second penalty of the half to put his side again before the superb Connor Robinson brought the hosts all square again with his second drop-goal as the clock ticked down.

A draw was probably a fair result at the end of a pulsating encounter, but London-based Aussie ref Mark Rossleigh blew his whistle again, and Keyes did the rest.

Still, a record Knights crowd of nearly 4,300 had been treated to an absolute cracker with which to kick off the season.

Furthermore, while James Ford’s men must now bounce back from the disappointment of a painful defeat, they have already shown they can at the very least compete with the odds-on title favourites.

The rest of the league would have been watching too.

There had been some secrecy over York’s team, with the media department’s “official” line-up on Friday varying widely to the 17 that took to the field.

The inclusion on dual-reg of Hull KR duo Will Oakes at centre and Matty March at half-back was surely saved as a surprise for the Bulls – as was that of on-loan flier Kieren Moss, a favourite at Odsal before his switch 12 months ago to Hull KR.

There were few surprises in the Bulls line-up, save Elliott Minchella being named at scrum-half alongside Keyes, with star man Dane Chisholm still out. Minchella was a ball-playing loose-forward at Sheffield last season and, while using him at half-back could perhaps be seen as a defensive move, he had a decent first half especially.

Moss scored against his former club inside three minutes.

A superb first set, ending with a cracking chip-kick and chase, trapped the Bulls in goal and a poor dropout had York on the front foot.

A fine move sent Joe Batchelor striding through and, although he was halted, he timed a perfect pass for Moss to touch down by the flag. Robinson, whose left boot had set up the dropout, converted from the sideline.

Bradford tried to hit back, a reverse kick by Gregg McNally, the highly-prized new full-back, winning a dropout. But Ethan Ryan could not take the rushed pass to the left wing.

They then got a lucky break when Ben Cockayne attempted a quick play-the-ball. Many referees would have given a penalty for interference but Rossleigh deemed a knock-on, handing the Bulls an attacking set.

The defence held out again but a penalty against Cockayne in the other half provided another piggy-back and, this time, the Bulls did benefit.

Moss challenged for a Keyes kick to his corner but the ball bounced out to give Ash Gibson an easy finish.

Back at the other end, a reverse kick from Robinson caused consternation in goal but the Bulls got to the touchdown first.

His boot was to put York back ahead on 28 minutes, though, knocking over a 40-metre penalty for offside.

The decision to go for two points suggested this was going to be a close encounter.

The momentum changed, though, when Ash Robson knocked on in a hit-up in front of his own posts.

The defence initially rescued the full-back: flying winger Ryan looked destined for the corner but Cockayne got across to tackle him and the inside ball was gobbled up by covering centre Oakes.

But, in the next attack, Lee Smith danced through and Minchella stormed home, Keyes converting for a 10-8 lead. Ross Peltier had had a good impact off the bench for the visitors.

York so nearly struck back before the half-time hooter – three times.

From an Adam Robinson offload, Jubb was halted inches short.

Then from another super Connor Robinson kick, Batchelor was sure he had scored was deemed to have bounced the ball down. Controversial.

And, again from Robinson’ left boot, the ball this time just evaded the on-rushing second-row.

This was non-stop action, and the second half began in the same vain.

However, when big Steve Crossley stripped the ball one-on-one from Robson, the Bulls again gleaned the momentum.

They were perhaps fortunate when the referee deemed Moss was not tackled in the air as the Bulls instead won a dropout. And they went 16-8 clear as Crossley barged over, Keyes goaling.

But wait. Batchelor showed just what made him the double 2017 Player of the Year with a stunning try.

A loose ball on half-way was surely bobbling the Bulls’ way but the second-row stormed up from nowhere. The pick-up at pace was out of this world and he turned up the pace to streak home.

The sides traded penalties for moving off the mark while in possession. The second saw Keyes eke up Bradford’s lead to from 35 metres.

However, York were back level on 65 minutes – and it was Batchelor again.

A penalty laid the platform and Chris Siddons, at first receiver, showed his ball handling skills with a superb pass that Batchelor took face height to plant over the line. Robinson goaled.

Siddons was also to the fore as York eked ahead.

After more good handling infield, the prop with a show and go went for the line – to be held up over it.

The ball came back for Robinson to drop a goal.

York could not hold on. A penalty for reefing 44 metres out saw Keyes give the Bulls the lead back.

But that was not it.

York thought they had won it when, as a loose ball ricocheted around in goal, Robinson celebrated touching it down. However the officials decided a Bulls hand got to it first.

The hosts then thought they had at least drawn it when, having gone forward again, Robinson dropped another goal.

Robinson had been hobbling after a recent knock. Half-back partner Marsh, for his part, had been playing on one leg for a hour – who said dual-reg players didn’t care? Robinson then had another drop-goal half-chance charged down.

However, then came the killer decision on the final hooter.