JAMES RATCLIFFE refused to blame referee Clint Sharrad for York City Knights’ defeat at Blackpool – despite seeing his side have two tries ruled out while the Panthers had a questionable touchdown allowed to stand.

The Knights lost 27-14 yesterday to continue their poor away form and fall down the Championship One table, having risen back to the top with Good Friday’s big win over Gateshead.

Ratcliffe’s men have a 100 per cent record at home this year, but have now lost four out of six games on their travels, including all three away days in the league. Blackpool have won all four of their league games.

It could have been different yesterday but for a controversial refereeing performance, yet Ratcliffe concentrated on his own side’s failings having let slip a 6-4 half-time, saying they stopped building pressure.

Four second-half tries also all came down York’s right, where Ratcliffe admitted there were defensive frailties.

Ratcliffe said of Sharrad: “There were some strange decisions, but that’s something for people above me to sort out. There was certainly nothing wrong with our first try he ruled out. It was a well-worked try.

“But I don’t think we can blame the referee for how inept we were at getting through our sets, working field position and building pressure in the second half.

“It was a really disappointing second-half showing. We had highlighted a few areas we thought we could improve on to capitalise on what Blackpool were doing wrong, but the players did not decide to carry on with what they had been doing well, which was playing sets out and playing in there half. They stopped doing that and that’s why we lost the game.”

The Knights finished the first half with an 80 per cent completion rate, but it dropped to 63 in the second.

“In the first half we showed what we could achieve,” said Ratcliffe. “But the game changed when Blackpool got in front and we decided to change how we played. If we had stuck to what we were doing, we would have stayed in front. It’s about being disciplined. You don’t have to score every time you get the ball. It’s about building pressure.

“We needed more patience and more discipline (with the ball) – with that we would’ve come away with more than we did.

“We know Blackpool are going to be up there. They’ve assembled a really good side and there are some really good players there. They will certainly be contenders. It’s up to us to work hard and correct the things we’ve done wrong.”

Some of those errors came in defence down York’s right side where centre Mike Mitchell and teenage winger Tom Lineham were caught out.

“There were a number of issues,” said Ratcliffe. “I think we showed a bit of naivety. Tom was probably backing himself with his pace but there are times to do that and defending ten yards from your own line isn’t one of them. There are a few other things we have to work through.”

The decision at the end of the game to run a 35-metre penalty, rather than kick for goal to potentially bring the Knights within 12 points on the scoreboard and gain a losing bonus point, was made on the field. The final hooter sounded moments later.

Ratcliffe was critical of that decision.