IF points were handed out for giving it a go, York City Knights would have been awarded at least a bonus yesterday.

As it was, they returned from Leigh with nothing, a 42-20 defeat not only continuing their wait for an away win in the Championship but also keeping them in the relegation dogfight.

At least they went home with pride intact. Not only did they refuse to buckle when, at times, a landslide looked afoot, but they probably shaded a second half which ended all square, displaying a confident, to-hell-with-it mentality in possession, coupled with handling skills aplenty, which was not reflected in the scoreline.

They certainly looked capable on Leigh’s sumptuous playing surface. The main problem, however, was Leigh looked that bit more capable, especially in a decisive first half.

Another problem was dubious officialdom which contributed to at least two home tries that swung things the Centurions’ way before the interval.

Both sides went into the match with injury problems, though Leigh received a surprise boost in the build-up and York a further blow.

Centurions boss Paul Rowley had said prolific point-scorer Martyn Ridyard was a couple of weeks away from fitness but the stand-off started the game, having a hand or boot in a few tries and adding five conversions to his season’s tally.

For York, winger George Elliott was the latest to be sidelined, by a back problem, with young Greg Minikin getting a late call-up.

Minikin had bagged a hat-trick for the under-20s at Rochdale on Thursday but this was a far tougher assignment. The youngster did well, though, notably when escaping his in-goal area early in the game, and when taking his one chance at the other end with aplomb.

The Knights were already missing half-backs Simon Brown and Ben Johnston, with Tom Carr’s switch to stand-off as expected seeing fit-again skipper James Ford take his place at full-back, although the pair intertwined roles to decent effect.

York had a new scrum-half, too, at least according to the team sheet, with Jerry Presley taking Jonny’s place, a mildly amusing spelling mistake which brought chuckles when the announcer read the names out.

No York fans were laughing a few minutes later, though.

Two penalties – one for reefing, when really Joe Pickets’ big hit on Ridyard had dislodged the ball – gave Leigh easy ground. Anthony Bate duly benefited with a try.

Then a lucky bounce from a smart kick took Carr out of the game and Tommy Goulding scored.

It should have got worse as Carr, defending at full-back, denied Leigh a certain try when intercepting Anthony Nicholson’s pass to Simon Finnigan. But the hosts didn’t fluff their next chance, Steve Maden scoring after Sam Hopkins had powered downfield, showing why Wigan have signed him for next year.

At the other end, Leigh’s defence, much like it had been in the reverse fixture, was handling everything the Knights could muster, Carr, Jack Latus and Pickets all being halted inches short.

But the hosts were broken when a brave play from Ford – a superb cut-out pass – saw Dougie Flockhart stride home down the left, Carr converting well.

York, with tails up, were pressing again, too, when they were hit by a second refereeing call which incensed head coach Thornton so much he stormed to the touchline from his seat in the stands.

Carr’s chip was swatted down by a Leigh hand but referee Matt Thomason, on advice from a touch judge, waved play-on as Ridyard – looking decidedly offside – picked up and legged it downfield before sending Jonathan Pownall home.

If York had scored from what should have been a scrum in the danger zone, it would have been 16-12 and game on.

Instead, it was 22-6 and game over, especially when a further try on the hooter rubbed salt into wounds.

An attempted Ford interception went to ground, the officials this time awarded a knock-on, and Stuart Littler crossed from Anthony Nicholson’s smart offload.

The floodgates could have opened early in the second half when, despite Kriss Brining’s try-saver on Joe Bullock, Simon Finnigan had an easy score.

However, York dug in. Flockhart pushed Maden into touch close to the line after he’d taken a low Presley kick. Following the scrum, Presley looked one way, passed the other, and Ed Smith crashed through. Carr converted.

Renewed hopes of a bonus point ended as Ridyard’s smart kick gave Maden a try, before Gregg McNally pinned his ears back to make it 42-12 on the hour.

But, credit to Thornton’s men, they showed a brashness fully deserving of further reward as both sides displayed party tricks in an end-to-end finale.

Twice Leigh scrambled in stunning fashion to deny them try-of-the- season contenders.

But the scoreboard was given a fairer look when, after Ryan Mallinder and Joe Pickets had forced a turnover with a crunching tackle, winger Flockhart finished well again from another fine Ford pass.

And it looked fairer still when Jack Briscoe gave Minikin his half-chance, which he took expertly down the right.


Match facts

Leigh: McNally, Maden, Littler, Gardner, Pownall, Ridyard, Nicholson, Ostick, Beswick, Bate, Finnigan, Goulden, Hopkins. Subs (all used): Penkywicz, Thornley, Bullock, Duffy.

Tries: Bate 3; Goulding 7; Maden 16, 53; Pownall 33; Littler 40; Finnigan 43; McNally 60.

Conversions: Ridyard 3, 7, 33, 40, 43.

Knights: Ford 7, Minikin 6, Latus 6, Briscoe 7, Flockhart 7, Carr 6, Presley 7, Freer 7, Lee 6, Aldous 6, Scott 7, Smith 6, Pickets 8. Subs (all used): Brining 7, Sullivan 6, Potter 6, Mallinder 8.

Tries: Flockhart 25, 64; Smith 48; Minikin 74.

Conversions: Carr 25, 48.

Man of the match: Ryan Mallinder – the former Sharlston amateur celebrated signing a deal for this season and next with a display full of hard running, hard defending and enthusiasm.

Referee: Matthew Thomason (Warrington) – two questionable decisions, one by the ref and one by a touch judge, led directly to first-half Leigh tries.

Penalties: 5-5.

Half-time: 28-6.

Attendance: 1,373.

Weather: good conditions.

Moment of the match: had it not been for great Leigh defence, York could have bagged try-of-the-season contenders in the second half. As it was, Greg Minikin’s fine finish at least gave further evidence the club may have another young gem.

Gaffe of the match: the touch judge’s call which led to the gamebreaker.

Gamebreaker: York were pressing for a try to make it 16-12 before half-time but, after a Leigh hand swatted forward a Carr chip, and after Ridyard had picked up from an apparent offside position, the officials waved play-on, allowing Pownall to sprint home and make it 22-6.

Match rating: anything but dull, with both sides displaying fine skills and seemingly going for broke, especially in an end-to-end second half, which made defeat easier to stomach.