INJURY-HIT York City Knights Ladies had to settle for an 18-18 draw at Huddersfield St Joseph’s after the hosts bagged a last-minute try.

Captain Carly Hilton scored twice and Nat Carr a spectacular solo effort, while Chloe James added three goals, but a late Huddersfield fightback ended the Women's Summer Merit League table-toppers’ 100 per cent record.

Still, coach Daryl North had been limited to a squad of just 14, including three debutants, and they played the entire second half with only 12 fit players.

Kay Rollinson, influential scrum-half Katie Langan and centre Ashleigh Hyde were among those sidelined through injury, while Lauren Powell was forced off after five minutes and two more departed at the interval.

Daisy Sanderson, Amanda Parkin and Sammy-Jo Middleton were handed first starts.

The Knights went ahead early - Huddersfield fumbled Hilton's kick-off and, from the resulting set, the prop powered over.

But Huddersfield soon took control and, after fluffing a chance, levelled through Lyndsey Cunnett.

They missed two more great opportunities too and, instead, York took a 6-4 interval lead with a James penalty.

Huddersfield made their extra player advantage count early in the second half through Cunnett's second try.

But Hilton forced her way over under the posts for her second, too, and the Knights looked to have sealed it when Carr skipped away from one defender before bursting through the line and racing 80 metres home, James’ second conversion making it 18-8.

However, Huddersfield bagged two tries in the last 10 minutes through Elizabeth Swales - despite suspicions of a knock-on in the build-up - and Laura Dyson, with Grace Ramsden's last-gasp conversion levelling things up.

York coach Daryl North said: “We started really poorly, they created some good chances and should have scored. In the end we were lucky to get a draw.”

But he added: “We already had a few players out and to play against a good side like this with only 12 players for the entire second half, in this heat, you can’t do it.

“The girls that came in all did a good job to say this was the first time they have played in the team."