YORK City Knights completed their pre-season fixture programme with a first win of the year to head into the 2017 campaign in seemingly decent fettle.

There remains food for thought for head coach James Ford, two early tries conceded raising question marks over a defence which had been Ford’s focus in recent training sessions. Late tries conceded by a much-changed team were probably less of a concern, if disappointing.

But the way the team started to click for the middle hour, especially after the introduction into the front row of Adam Robinson and hooker Pat Smith off the bench, suggested Ford was getting his team playing something like he’d like.

Following defeats to Featherstone and London Broncos, conceding 94 points in all, this 34-24 victory over Hull Under-23s duly got them into a potentially important winning groove ahead of Sunday’s League One Cup opener at home to North Wales Crusaders.

York were ahead after three minutes, on the back of an early penalty.

Tyson-Wilson’s crossfield kick was pinpoint, Dee Foggin-Johnston caught it and, before being challenged, palmed it inside for his centre, Nev Morrison, to cross.

But Hull twice replied, all too easily.

Bobby Tyson-Wilson lost possession in centre-field, and a simple movement right to left gave centre Connor Bower chance to score.

After another cheap turnover, Ash Robson wasting a good scrum position, prop Ross Osbourne fought over with another straightforward finish, Nick Rawsthorne goaling.

Both scorers - Bower and Osbourne – were well known to the home team, having had loan stints with York last year. There was another ex-Knight in Hull’s 17, namely Corey Hanson, who had a brief spell under Ford two years ago.

Hanson and fellow Hull replacements Alex Gibley and Mason Tonks were all on dual-reg from Doncaster, hence Dons boss Gary Thornton was sat in the stands, more than just an interested observer as he too gears up for the start of the League One campaign. The other sub, Matty Cook, was signed from Donny.

Thornton wouldn’t have been too worried with what he saw early on from their League One rivals, York again fluffing field position as prop Bobby Tyson-Wilson, himself once a Dons player, dropped a simple pass straight from a penalty.

However, it got better from the hosts as they lifted the pace and cut out basic errors.

On-loan hooker Will Jubb went close in the next attack with a run from dummy-half, only to lose control under the posts.

But York did level with their next chance - Chris Siddons, starting at loose-forward with Tim Spears rested, coming to the fore and Adam Robinson making an obvious impact off the bench.

Siddons made great ground with an enthusiastic drive and Robinson backed it up from Pat Smith’s crash ball. Harry Tyson-Wilson converted.

Smith likewise injected pace and nous at hooker and, after smart work from a kick won an attacking scrum, his pass had Robinson going over again. The conversion was good again.

Ronan Dixon mis-controlled the restart, offering Hull another attacking set but the defence this time was better, James Haynes managing to deny Bower another touchdown.

The lead then increased, York’s attack clicking into gear for sub second-row Brad Hey to sprint through and back himself against the full-back for a wonderful finish. The goal made it 22-10, York’s second quarter far better than their first.

Bobby Tyson-Wilson’s much-improved second stint was rewarded with a try early in the second period, question marks this time over Hull’s tackling.

Ford by now had withdrawn both half-backs Harry Tyson-Wilson and Danny Sowerby in readiness for Sunday, with veteran Jonny Presley as expected getting his first run of the year and trialist Josh Kittrick given a chance to show what he’s got.

The back line, too, was much-changed for the second half, Ford having named 11 subs and using them all.

Full-back Ash Robson, taking over goal-kicking, converted before likewise being withdrawn after a busy night.

By now Ford’s men were dominating, Hull’s young team unsure how to combat it. However, they struck back after a couple of penalties, York sub winger Adam Dent giving Nick Rawsthorne too much room out wide.

As is often the way in these games of plentiful changes, the contest petered out a little, but Joe Porter, the back-rower on trial from York Acorn, stood out with a few hard runs, while Hull made the scores much closer with a lovely team try, Cook the finisher, and a cracking solo effort by hooker Jez Litton, Rawsthorne goaling.

But York had the last word, Jubb scoring smartly from dummy-half, Ben Dent goaling.

Knights: Robson, Brierley, Haynes, Morrison, Foggin-Johnston, Sowerby, H Tyson-Wilson, B Tyson-Wilson, Jubb, Moran, Thompson, E Smith, Siddons. Subs (all used): P Smith, A Dent, Dixon, Hey, B Dent, Swift, Downes, Robinson, Kittrick, Porter, Presley.

Tries: Morrison 3; Robinson 24, 27; Hey 33; B Tyson-Wilson 44; Jubb 79. Goals: H Tyson-Wilson 24, 27, 33; Robson 44; B Dent 79.

Hull: Sanderson, Rawsthorne, Michaels, Bower, Lancaster, Woods, Wray, Osbourne, Litton, Matower, Larroyer, Turgot, Silk. Subs (all used): Cook, Gibley, Hanson, Tonks.

Tries: Bower 6; Osbourne 10; Rawsthorne 55; Cook 70; Litton 74. Goals: Rawsthorne 10, 74.