NO more than two points had separated York City Knights and North Wales Crusaders in the last four meetings.

So it was no real surprise this latest clash at Bootham Crescent was another nip-and-tuck affair, again with only one score in it.

The Welsh outfit had won the previous meeting – the season-opening League One Cup tie – 17-16 with a golden-point drop goal in extra time, having come from 16-4 behind.

This, in truth, was another game York should have won, so much so people were leaving the ground looking puzzled and asking each other if their team had really actually lost.

But the Crusaders, having taken the lead for the first time with 14 minutes left, again departed with the spoils, courtesy of a 26-22 victory.

After the highs of last week’s Challenge Cup defeat of Championship side Rochdale, it was an immediate League One reality check.

A lack of tempo here, an unlucky bounce there, a stoppage over that way and a try out of nothing over this, and once again the rhythm goes, and somehow the opposition are right back in it. It was all rather curious.

Factor in two Harry Tyson-Wilson conversions that bounced out off uprights and there’s another painful difference.

Head coach James Ford, after much contemplation, had made one change to the 17 that beat the Hornets, with fit-again Chris Siddons, the former BARLA international, replacing another ex-amateur ace, Joe Porter, on the bench.

That there were seven changes to the line-up that last met North Wales, only five weeks ago, hints at how quickly the new Knights outfit are evolving. They will need to keep evolving.

North Wales were a bit injury hit – their current run of luck underlined by new loan signing from Rochdale, Jack Francis, getting crocked in training – but still showed only four changes to the side that won that February cup tie.

With that being the Crusaders’ only victory so far this term, York, on more recent results, were favourites, and the game looked like going to form early on as they went ahead on nine minutes, on their back of their first penalty.

Reinstated veteran half-back Jonny Presley, who created the match-winner last week, was instrumental again as the right edge made space for Ben Dent to touch down by the flag.

York allowed the restart to bounce out, and conceded a penalty deep into the set to invite pressure.

But they held out relatively comfortably and in their next attacking set, on the back of their second penalty, Tyson-Wilson, looking so much better with old head Presley alongside him, neatly dummied through and converted.

The Crusaders had come back from 16-4 down last time so 10-0 was not likely to phase them, especially after a couple of 50-50 decisions their way handed them momentum.

A smart move on the right edge saw Callum Mulkeen hit back 26 minutes in and they were duly lifted.

Three quick-fire penalties had them briefly on a team warning, but their goalline defence was resolute.

York’s, on the other hand, was not after three penalties the other way, a high tackle on dangerous full-back Tommy Johnson put on report in the midst of it.

Alex Davidson touched down from a crash ball, Johnson’s conversion making it 10-10 two minutes before half-time.

The Knights eked out a 12-10 interval lead, though, as they quickly won the ball back and got a penalty on the hooter. It was wide right but Tyson-Wilson stroked it through.

The scrum-half then extended the lead four minutes after the resumption.

Joe Batchelor made an excellent initial break and Harry Carter’s smart pass from dummy-half gave the number seven the chance.

They could have extended it again after full-back Liam Harris’s searing break but as he ducked and weaved seeking support, referee Jon Roberts blew for obstruction.

Furthermore, in a blow for the last half-hour, big Adam Robinson had flown up alongside but pulled a muscle in the process.

Worse soon followed as Crusaders hit back again, Earl Hurst finishing a superb off-the-cuff try down the left to make it 16-14.

Some fortunate ricochets under a kick had earned them the lucky attacking set.

Mascot Norris the Knight, plus youngsters from New Earswick All Blacks, had handed out Mother’s Day flowers to mums in the crowd at half-time.

Referee Roberts was to give the next free gift - a very soft penalty to Crusaders for lying on in centrefield late in the tackle count.

It was inevitable that the visitors should score on the back of it, and scrum-half Ryan Smith duly jinked beyond a missed tackle, Johnson converting to give the Welsh the lead, at 20-16, with 14 minutes left.

There was still time for York but impatience crept in.

Instead, a chip to their left corner then saw Dale Bloomfield beat Ben Dent to the catch and force the last defender off to score, Johnson goaling.

York gave themselves hope with four minutes to go via a Joe Batchelor cracker.

Tyson-Wilson smartly put the second-row through a gap and he pinned his ears back from half-way to make it 26-22, after the goal. However, time was soon up.