YORK CITY KNIGHTS’ travel sickness is fast becoming a nasty bug.

Fabulous at home but frustrating away in equal measure, Gary Thornton’s men are the Kingstone Press Championship’s version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

This was them at their most schizophrenic too – “even worse than Keighley” according to the head coach, which was some statement given how awful his side had been in their 34-0 drubbing there.

But such harsh words are not simple exaggerations in the wake of another irritating loss. On their travels, York are proving a much diminished force.

There was little prospect of them winning at the South Leeds Stadium as they were outmuscled and outfought by a disciplined, although average, Hunslet Hawks outfit.

In the face of determined defence they quickly ran out of ideas while, on the flip side, they were remarkably casual when it was their turn to keep their opponents at bay.

Nowhere was this more starkly seen than when the Hawks scored their opening try of the second half on 49 minutes.

Despite their calamities the Knights trailed only 10-6 at this point and were on the attack when Simon Brown’s kick bounced out of the in-goal area.

But he and his team-mates were enormously casual, strolling around, as Jimmy Watson sprinted from behind the goal to his mark, took a quick tap, and then took off on an 80-metre run right round the outside of the York defence.

Jimmy Keinhorst went with him and it took the simplest of inside balls to free the centre to romp home.

With such naivety, it is little surprise the Knights were destined for defeat.

Thornton had impressed upon his men in the build up the need to get off on the front foot but his side found themselves under pressure straight away when they gave away possession on their first set.

The Hawks were harder into the tackle, moved the ball with more purpose and gradually built up a head of steam.

That was forcing the Knights into mistakes but, given that, they were relieved Hunslet opted to kick a penalty from in front of the posts on ten minutes after some incisive moves almost brought the first try.

A great offload from Liam Welham left to Watson brought Waine Pryce into play and it took a solid tackle to stop the former Huntington Stadium favourite in his tracks.

So with the Knights scrambling it was a surprise the Hawks merely opted for two points when York subsequently transgressed – Luke Helliwell dispatching his kick with ease.

Hunslet were showing such purpose, and such tenacity in the tackle, that it took a 40-20 from Brown just to get the Knights into their opponents’ half.

But once there they met a brick wall and, on the rare occasion they breached the first line, Danny Grimshaw was on hand with a great tackle as James Ford threatened just before the 20 minute mark.

That was only putting off the inevitable and it came through Pryce after 28 minutes when he took a pass on the short side close to the line and crashed through – stretching out an arm to get the ball grounded.

In the face of such dominance, it was something of a surprise that the Knights got back into the game four minutes before the break.

It was a good try as well. From an outside line shift, Brown’s cut-out pass to the left side found Jack Latus, who tipped it to Nat Browne to get it down in the left corner.

When Tom Carr nailed a difficult conversion from the touchline, York only trailed 8-6 and, with some half-time words, could put together a second half assault.

But, after being penalised for an attempted rip, Helliwell stepped up once more and rubbed salt into the Knights’ wounds by bagging a further two points just before the close of the half.

With Thornton’s side then caught asleep by Watson and Keinhorst ten minutes after the break, they needed a quick response at 16-6 adrift.

It was Liam Kent who provided it on 53 minutes.

Brad Singleton, the Leeds Rhinos’ starlet, tried to be a touch too clever with a pass to Helliwell and Kent was one step ahead, reaching up to intercept before taking the Hunslet chasers on a mazy run to the whitewash.

Just as they had got themselves back into the game, however, the Knights contrived to mess it up again and, this time, it was terminal.

Their kicking game had been poor throughout and, wise to the fact that Brown was prone to dumping the ball off down the middle, Keinhorst anticipated the move well on 61 minutes.

Charging down the kick 30 metres out, he pounced on the loose ball and ran through to score and put the game out of the reach of the Knights at 22-12.

There was still time for Hunslet to put a flourish on their win as time ran out. After Kriss Brining had been held up as the Hawks’ defence again shone, David March, one of a host of former Knights in the Leeds side’s line up, drove through what remained of the York defence and moved the ball right for James Houston to gratefully accept the score.

Woeful was Thornton’s reaction afterwards. The question is, though, what can he do about it?


Match report

Hawks: Watson, Chisholm, Keinhorst, Welham, Pryce, Grimshaw, Helliwell, Yates, Haigh, Haley, Haughey, Houston, March. Subs (all used): Hood, Brickwood, Menzies, Singleton.

Tries: Pryce 28, Keinhorst 49, 61, Houston 80.

Conversions: Helliwell 28, 49, 61.

Penalties: Helliwell 10, 39.

Knights: Carr 6, Morrison 5, Ford 7, Briscoe 5, Browne 5, Brown 5, Nicklas 5, Bell 5, Brining 5, Potter 5, Scott 6, Kent 6, Smith 6. Subs (all used): Presley 6, Sullivan 7, Stenchion 5, Latus 5.

Tries: Browne 36, Kent 53.

Conversions: Carr 36, 53.

Man of the match: Adam Sullivan – in a disappointing Knights display, he at least provided some go-forward.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton – increasingly enraged the home support with his decisions.

Penalties: 3-9.

Weather: bright, but breezy.

Half-time: 10-6.

Attendance: 609.

Gaffe of the match: how the Knights switched off while Jimmy Watson sprinted through the in-goal area and then 80 metres to set up Keinhorst’s try is beyond comprehension.

Gamebreaker: Simon Brown’s charged-down kick and the Hunslet try which followed left York with too much to do.

Match rating: hugely disappointing display from the Knights, who were beaten by a Hawks side that simply wanted it more.