A COSTLY experience in a court of law, and now a costly defeat on the field of play – it’s been a bad few days for York City Knights.

Former boss Dave Woods has been the adversary in both arenas, arguably coming out on top in the legal battle which began after he was sacked by the Knights nearly two years ago, and definitely winning on the pitch, his Whitehaven team going home with the spoils from yesterday’s 20-4 win at Huntington Stadium.

The full effect of the court case, and the judge’s decision to make the Knights pay 80 per cent of Woods’ legal fees as well as their own – a figure which could run into tens of thousands – may be felt in times to come, in particular on the playing budget for 2014.

But of more pressing concern is where the team will finish 2013.

Gary Thornton’s men have now lost four Kingstone Press Championship matches on the bounce, three in games they would really hope to win.

Two have been defeats from the jaws of victory, and yesterday’s saw a bonus point taken away near the end. That amounts to five points dropped in what amounts to, in total, about four minutes of rugby.

Instead of eyeing the play-offs, in touching distance of Woods’ sixth-placed team, they are now 12th, two points off relegation, with games against Halifax and champions Sheffield next up.

On current form, taking points off those two doesn’t seem likely, meaning they could be in the drop zone by the time they face relegation rivals Hunslet and Swinton on consecutive weekends.

With the way things are going, the Knights’ battle to beat the drop is based on that basement pair not picking up points either. However, the Hawks showed their fight by coming from 28-4 down at half-time against Barrow to lose only 28-26 – a result which also took the Raiders above York in the standings.

The Knights, for their part, cannot be faulted for their effort, but for the second game on the trot their performance with the ball was considerably less impressive than that without it.

They did go close a few times, not least when Sam Scott couldn’t quite touch down Ben Johnston’s kick in-goal, when Dougie Flockhart had a first-half try ruled out by a touch judge for an apparent foot in touch, and, in the second half, when George Elliott was hauled back by the whistle after Sam Latus’ scoring pass was deemed forward.

But the fact they scored only one try and that from an interception – albeit a cracking 80-metre effort by Flockhart – says much of the Knights’ cutting edge yesterday. Or rather the lack of it.

Thornton had made one change in the backs, ex-Hull KR man Sam Latus making his full debut in the centres alongside brother Jack, but both were under-used.

The Knights did not attack the fringes as they have done in previous home victories, and when they did, play often stalled. Full-back Tom Carr’s penchant for joining the line was again conspicuous but this time more so because he often had nowhere to go and appeared to dilly-dally.

The bigger battle, as is often the case in low-scoring affairs, was up top, where Austin Bell and Craig Potter were recalled in place of Nathan Freer and Joe Pickets, Freer omitted due to a head injury in last week’s late loss at Dewsbury. Bell and Potter both started, and, to be fair, did okay against a big, strong Haven front line. Adam Sullivan also took the battle to the opposition on his entrance.

However, Haven won up front overall, underlined by tries by props Paul Jackson and Anthony Walker in the final quarter as Haven continued to go strong while the Knights waned.

The only try of the first half had come from the visitors following a penalty midway through the half, with centre Scott McAvoy scoring after a runaround by influential half-back Jamie Rooney.

McAvoy twice kept the lead intact, too, with a cover tackle on Flockhart after stand-off Ben Johnston had made the initial insertion, and when hacking the ball away just before Johnston could touch down his own little kick.

York probably deserved to equalise before half-time but were their own worst enemies on the resumption.

Ex-Knights captain Lee Paterson regained possession from a kick-off which York had allowed to bounce and, although the hosts escaped this time, they did not escape when Latus’ miss-tackle on Lee Doran allowed the Cumbrians cheap territory. Rooney touched down Cain Southernwood’s kick as full-back Carr, in chasing the ball, collided with ref Dave Merrick. Another away try looked afoot when Flockhart intercepted Danny Barker’s pass and this time outsprinted McAvoy.

However, mistakes continued and, after Ed Smith dropped Luke Stenchion’s pass in his own half, the game slipped away as Jackson crashed over from close range with 14 minutes left, Rooney adding his second goal.

Johnston nearly replied on the end of Carr’s reverse kick, while Elliott was denied by the whistle. But Ryan Mallinder marred a decent display with a mad final few minutes which comprised two high shots and a missed tackle which allowed Walker to seal Haven’s win.

Match stats

York: Carr 6, Elliott 6, S Latus 6, J Latus 6, Flockhart 7, Johnston 6, Presley 6, Potter 6, Lee 6, Bell 6, Scott 6, Mallinder 6, Smith 6. Subs (all used): Brining 6, Sullivan 7, Aldous 6, Stenchion 6.

Try: Flockhart 55.

Goals: none.

Whitehaven: Cameron, Calvert, Parker, McAvoy, Fleming, Rooney, Southernwood, Houghton, Newton, Jackson, Doran, Clarke, Paterson. Subs (all used): Thorman, Barker, Walker, Hand.

Tries: McAvoy 19; Rooney 43; Jackson 66; Walker 77.

Goals: Rooney 43, Jackson 66.

Man of the match: Adam Sullivan – Whitehaven’s front-rowers would have won the battle down the middle much more than they did had Sullivan, who took the fight back to them, not been on the pitch.

Referee: Dave Merrick (Castleford) – was aided quite well by his touch judges.

Penalties: 5-4.

Half-time: 0-4.

Attendance: 615.

Weather: pleasant.

Moment of the match: Dougie Flockhart’s long-range interception try to get York on the scoreboard and back in with a shout continued the winger’s scoring streak, making it five tries in four games. The way he later controlled a high kick on his boot, flicking it up into his hands, was also a ludicrous piece of skill/fortune.

Gaffe of the match: Ryan Mallinder gave away two penalties for high tackles late on and these helped Whitehaven gain the ground which brought their final try, which denied York a bonus point. Mallinder claimed both were around the shoulders but he should have learned after the first to not risk it.

Gamebreaker: York had a sniff at 10-4 but, after Ed Smith spilled Luke Stenchion’s pass, Haven did not pass up the opportunity to take advantage, Paul Jackson’s 66th-minute try putting them 12 points clear with the Knights looking unlikely to score one try never mind two.

Match rating: defences dominated the first half and Whitehaven’s continued to dominate after it, the Knights not showing nearly enough in attack.