YORK City Knights and North Wales Crusaders played two League One humdingers late last season, sharing 30-28 wins in free-flowing thrillers that had fans on edges of seats.

This 2016 rematch did not have the same number tries, the defences having seemingly worked each other out, but, crikey, it was even closer – a 16-16 draw the final outcome, thanks to local lad Tyler Craig’s late heroics.

The game looked set to be decided by a howler from Brett Turner, Jack Hansen the beneficiary of the full-back’s dallying in-goal.

But he, and a point, was rescued by Craig in the last minute, not only with a superb try which took some finishing but also the touchline conversion under immense pressure.

The 22-year-old had taken over the goalkicking, the misfiring Danny Nicklas finally relieved of those duties.

It was the first time in Craig’s life he had done so, but he was a decent footballer as a youngster - and that left foot of his could have belonged to Diego Maradona as he stroked over the difficult two points to level the scores as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

It still meant that after nine straight wins against League One opposition, York are now without a win in two after the loss at Barrow, but this was a point gained rather than one lost.

York began in the ascendancy, and duly took a seventh-minute lead.

Jonny Presley chipped beautifully, and Buchanan, in off his wing, caught it, collided with a post and forced the ball down.

Buchanan was one of five changes to the side that lost at Barrow, with fellow winger Ben Dent recalled, Josh Tonks fit again and the Smith brothers, like Buchanan, well again after a sickness bug.

Pat Smith was the natural replacement at hooker for the crocked Harry Carter.

Also out were threequarters Adam Dent and Brad Hey and packman Jack Anderson, all omitted, and Matty Dale, who had hamstring trouble in training to join Mike Emmett, Rich Wilkinson and Harry Carter on the treatment table - all of whom were missed.

Ford had been set to trial Ed Smith at centre but Dale’s withdrawal saw him reinstated in his usual back-row slot.

Craig goalkicking was the other notable change, and he added the conversion.

However, if home fans expected a plethora of goals, they were in for a surprise.

Crusaders, whose financial problems saw a few key players poached by other clubs early in the year, had had a late blow here as scrum-half Andy Mousdale failed a fitness test in the warm-up, but his replacement, Hansen, had a good day.

Indeed, he was key as they took the lead.

They quickly struck back after a 40-20, as lovely hands created the space out wide for winger Scott Turner.

And after another Hansen kick caused consternation, with Tonks deemed to have knocked on when it seemed he had patted the bobbling ball backwards, a great pass from Ryan Smith put back-rower Simon Atherton in, Tommy Johnson goaling.

They were indeed the good footballing team Ford had warned about.

Their defence was even better, so good in fact they literally ripped the shirt off Russ Spiers’ back, the stitching not up to the task as he ended with only his right sleeve still on and the rest of the top flapping in the wind like a bedsheet on a washing line.

Whenever York looked to be building pressure, a penalty or a little error gave the visitors a free escape route.

They still had enough attacking sets but, as hard as they tried as the game headed towards half-time, they could not break through, several times halted in the red zone.

Were the half-backs picking the wrong pass? Was Turner not joining the line as he should?

A high tackle on Kriss Brining on the last tackle gave the Knights more great field position at the start of the second half, but again the Welsh defence was too good, Brining closest when held up over the whitewash.

The plays that had brought York so many tries this term were just not working.

Finally they did it.

A scintillating break by James Morland and a wonderful long pass left by Presley should have created the space but somehow the Crusaders scrambled.

Nevertheless more fine play, this time spreading the ball right, saw Dent mark his return by flying into the corner.

Craig could not convert this one.

With parity restored, Turner’s howler handed the visitors the initiative back.

He firstly gifted the Welshmen possession as his pass went out of play. The full-back then tried to shepherd a Hansen kick behind but it was never going to bounce out of play and, instead of knocking it dead or taking possession and a tackle, he froze and Hansen touched down.

Nicklas didn’t have a great day either and his fumble gifted North Wales field position – though he breathed a sigh of relief as Hansen saw a field goal attempted deflected wide by the onrushing Brett Waller and then missed another.

Still, the stand-off was involved in the try that nicked a point.

Tonks fired a cut-out pass to Buchanan who, despite not being at his best, produced a moment of class by somehow getting it back inside to Craig.

The centre still had a lot to do but finished brilliantly. The conversion was probably even better.

MATCH FACTS

Knights 16 Crusaders 16

Knights: B Turner 5, B Dent 6, Craig 8, Morland 7, Buchanan 5, Presley 6, Nicklas 5, Applegarth 6, P Smith 6, Osbourne 6, Tonks 7, E Smith 7, Aldous 6. Subs (all used): Brining 6, Spiers 7, Waller 6, Mallinder 6.

Tries: Buchanan 7; B Dent 53; Craig 79.

Conversions: Craig 7, 79.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Crusaders: Johnson, S Turner, Reardon, Hurst, Massam, R Smith, Hansen, Walker, Hudson, Baker, Bibby, Wild, Atherton. Subs (all used): M Wilkinson, Joy, Haggerty, Warburton.

Tries: S Turner 11; Appleton 15; Hansen 62.

Conversions: Johnson 15, 62.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Man of the match: Josh Tonks was a candidate after his right old battle with former Super League second-row Stephen Wild, but Tyler Craig cannot be ignored after his late heroics not only stole a point but capped a decent all-round individual show.

Referee: Jack Smith (St Helens) – slack on offsides but otherwise good.

Penalty count: 7-4

Weather: pleasant.

Half-time: 6-10

Attendance: 535

Moment of the match: Tyler Craig’s late try, created by Austin Buchanan’s moment of magic, followed by his touchline conversion under pressure to nick a point.

Gaffe of the match: Brett Turner had a nightmare two minutes. If his pass that went out of play to gift Crusaders a scrum near half-way was bad, then what followed was awful. The full-back tried to shepherd an excellent Jack Hansen kick behind but it was never going to bounce out of play and, instead of knocking it dead or taking possession and a tackle, he froze and Hansen touched down.

Gamebreaker: Tyler Craig’s equalising try and conversion.

Match rating: Another cracking close encounter between these two teams.