York City Knights 40 South Wales Scorpions 6 - match report and player ratings

After their seven-match unbeaten start to the season ended in last week’s bruising Challenge Cup tie at Championship side Dewsbury, James Ford’s men may have been grateful to have the struggling Scorpions next up with which to ease back into League One action.

But, while there was little sign of complacency in a bright first period as they killed the game off with six tries to none, the second stanza lacked intensity and concentration and was utterly forgettable.

Ford had insisted beforehand that the performance and “processes” rather than plenty of points had been the focus.

And the scoreline was indeed looking after itself at the break, at 34-0, with some excellent rugby having been on show.

But, with fans expecting their team to considerably bolster their points-difference, and add to the 278 they had scored against the Scorpions in five previous meetings, it all descended into uninspiring fare.

So much so that the Welshmen – a team with only four wins in 34 months - took the rare credit of drawing a half of rugby.

To be fair, they hadn’t looked like easy-beats in the opening gambits.

Having been given a free attack after Danny Nicklas’ kick-off went out on the full, the Scorpions forced a dropout and then nearly caught the hosts out through William Gaylor’s smart reverse kick, only it was a little too heavy for fellow Halifax loanee Joseph Martin.

Their rugby was pretty solid too – though that could not stop the Knights scoring twice in the first quarter.

After running the last tackle, a smart move – a ball out to winger Austin Buchanan and then back inside – saw Tyler Craig touch down on his return to the side.

Then hooker Harry Carter ducked, dived and wriggled out of a tackle to leave three defenders grounded as he scored an improbable try under the sticks.

Carter’s opening stint had also been prominent for some hits in defence that were far bigger than his diminutive stature.

Nicklas converted both tries – the scrum-half ended with six goals from seven - then created the next with a delayed pass that found Josh Tonks on a trademark hard line to the whitewash.

Then came a trademark, and predictable, Kriss Brining try from dummy-half, this time a hot shoe shuffle sending a defender off the dancefloor and leaving the replacement hooker with a gap through which to stroll home.

All was going swimmingly, though the departure of full-back Richard Wilkinson with a tricep injury was obviously a blow.

It perhaps contributed to the fall in cohesion in the second half, too, after a reshuffle saw winger Ben Dent go to full-back, centre Craig go to the wing, and sub Jordan Crowther, normally a second-row, go on at centre. It added to the four changes Ford had made to last week’s personnel.

The scoring nevertheless continued as sub Mark Applegarth enjoyed a simple finish from first receiver.

Then the best move of the match – one of those that is a joy to behold – took play back upfield, and Brining scored his second try from acting-half, this time his deceptive brute strength too much for the defence.

Fans could have expected more of the same in the second half, especially when Pat Smith – back in the side at half-back as Ford rested Jonny Presley – got the scoreboard ticking two minutes after the resumption, spotting a gap and going for it.

But it all fell away.

Any targets of a clean sheet soon went as the Scorpions got reward for some nice rugby with a try by Wales international Christiaan Roets, Italy international Paul Emanuelli – whose kicking game was good throughout - converting.

York’s concentration levels also dropped off - twice Dent lost possession in carbon copy moves, while Nicklas twice kicked out on the full and a rushed last-tackle go for the line from Mike Emmett backfired.

Contacts also dropped off and the Welshmen took advantage with some easy metres and offloads.

It all promoted Ford to leave his seat in the stands and watch the remaining 15 minutes from the touchline.

He was left shaking his head as his team coughed up possession on the last tackle on half-way, and he booted a rack of water bottles half-way down the sideline when Crowther wasted a rare good break, and marred a decent display, by ignoring Austin Buchanan on his outside.

It didn’t get much better in an error-strewn finale and the final hooter was something of a relief.

Still, complaining about a 40-6 victory – it can’t be all that bad.

MATCH FACTS

York City Knights 40 South Wales Scorpions 6

Knights: Wilkinson 6, B Dent 5, Craig 7, Hey 5, Buchanan 7, P Smith 6, Nicklas 5, Waller 6, Carter 7, Aldous 6, J Tonks 7, Anderson 6, Emmett 6. Subs (all used): Brining 7, Applegarth 6, Osbourne 6, Crowther 7.

Tries: Craig 9; Carter 18; Tonks 29; Brining 32, 40; Applegarth 37; P Smith 42.

Conversions: Nicklas 9, 18, 29, 32, 40, 42.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Scorpions: Martin, Evans, Roets, Gregory, Parker, Gaylor, Emanuelli, Duffy, Williams, O Phillips, Hill, Scrivens, Vitalini. Subs (all used): C Davies, Connor, Nelmes, Baller.

Tries: Roets 47.

Conversions: Emanuelli 47.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Man of the match: Harry Carter – the hooker’s excellent first stint, not least some big contacts and a splendid try, set the tone for the healthy interval lead.

Referee: Jack Smith (St Helens) – bit whistlehappy at times.

Penalty count: 8-8

Weather: bit nippy but, with little wind, dry weather and a great playing surface, the conditions were excellent.

Half-time: 34-0

Attendance: 643

Moment of the match: the sweeping move that led the penalty that preceded Kriss Brining’s second try on the half-time hooter was a joy to behold.

Gaffe of the match: going back out for the second half. Okay, the game was already won but the Knights gave their least inspiring 40 minutes of the season.

Gamebreaker: South Wales seemed to start well enough but once York’s third try was on the board in the 29th minute, the contest was pretty much over.

Match rating: a straightforward victory was expected and indeed materialised but, while the Knights entertained in the first half on a fine surface in excellent conditions, the second half was, frankly, dire.