IF ever there was a time for York City Knights to end their long wait for an away win in the Kingstone Press Championship it was now.

Their last league victory on the road came courtesy of a Chris Thorman goal on the final hooter of their match at Dewsbury on June 26, 2011.

The wait, however, goes on, now comprising 23 games.

Last night they were rolled over in the first half of their relegation six-pointer away to Swinton Lions and, for all their effort and breaks and opportunities in the second half, the damage was done.

The 34-10 defeat, sealed by two late counter-attack tries, left them in the relegation zone, with four games left to save themselves.

Coach Gary Thornton said beforehand it was time his team’s luck changed, several slices of fortune and dodgy refereeing calls going against them in their now seven-match losing run.

Okay, they again got little from man-in-the-middle Chris Leatherbarrow, but there was no real misfortune last night, other than catching Swinton, recent victors over Featherstone, in surely their best form of the season.

Thornton made two big calls in his team selection – bringing prop Matt Nicholson back into his starting line-up after four months out following shoulder surgery, and dropping Jonny Presley altogether on Simon Brown’s return from his ban, keeping young Jack Iley in as replacement hooker.

The first decision definitely paid off, and not only via Nicholson’s try within four minutes of the kick off – crashing over after a smart Jack Lee pass from dummy-half, Tom Carr goaling.

However, the good times did not last.

That try had come after a simple error by Swinton prop Jack Morrison 20 metres from his own line. However, York winger Dougie Flockhart returned the favour after nine minutes.

He was rescued by his centre, Jack Latus, who won the race to a smart kick to the corner at the end of Swinton’s set, but at the end of the next, James Mendeika out-jumped a static Flockhart to catch and touch down Ian Watson’s chip, Watson’s half-back partner Craig Harvey adding the first of his four conversions.

Another kick caused York more trouble, Carr dropping veteran hooker Mark Smith’s bomb under pressure. York’s left-side defence was found wanting again following the scrum, Flockhart in no-man’s land as Darren Hawkyard strolled through.

York had also lost Joe Pickets to concussion by then. How they could have done with a few of his trademark big hits.

Swinton turned the screw, only they getting out offloads, making half-breaks, forcing repeat sets. York struggled to get out of their half, doing too much defending.

Pressure paid off as Matt Sarsfield crossed down Swinton’s left. Harvey missed the conversion and also a kickable penalty on half-time, but the 16-6 lead was still healthy.

The second half began in similar vein, Darren Hawkyard extending the lead as he escaped the clutches of Jack Latus, York’s defence stretched by countless offloads.

A great break down the right, James Ford making 40 yards following some smart passing, nearly brought a try at the other end for George Elliott, Sam Scott also going close. So began the Knights’ best spell.

When Nicholson returned to the fray, he immediately got an offload out, Lee streaking away, but Ben Johnston, the only one keeping up in support, spilled the ball when tackled.

Both times Swinton relieved the pressure with aplomb, while another Lions counter-attack ended with another penalty, though again Harvey missed.

York were still in it but needed something soon. They could have scored from Brown’s reverse kick to the sticks but Carr bounced the ball down, the try ruled out by the video ref.

Nicholson made another break, his partnership with hooker Lee down centrefield paying off again. But again the opportunity went begging.

Next time it didn’t. Following a rare penalty York’s way, Ben Johnston slipped through for his seventh try since arriving on loan.

More chances came, Nathan Freer losing the ball to ruin a good position.

The game changed again, however, after Carr attempted an all-too-ambitious little kick down the right when the ball should have stayed in hand.

From the counter-attack, Mendeika bagged his second try, again beating Flockhart to the ball from a Harvey kick.

Another counter-attack, inspired by Kevin Penny, this time from an ambitious Sam Scott kick, soon enough saw Rhys Williams score to seal the points, the result then capped by a Harvey penalty on the hooter.

 

Swinton: R Hawkyard, Penny, Nanyn, Mendeika, Williams, Harvey, Watson, Riley, M Smith, Morrison, D Hawkyard, Sarsfield, Hulme. Subs (all used): Burke, Brown, Mills, Tahraoui.

Tries: Mendeika 11, 72; D Hawkyard 18, 44; Sarsfield 37; Williams 76.

Conversions: Harvey 11, 18, 44, 72.

Penalties: Harvey 80.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Knights: Carr 6, Elliott 6, Ford 7, J Latus 5, Flockhart 5, Brown 7, Johnston 7, Freer 7, Lee 7, Nicholson 8, Scott 6, E Smith 6, Pickets 6. Subs (all used): Iley 6, Stenchion 6, Aldous 6, Mallinder 6.

Tries: Nicholson 4; Johnston 62.

Conversions: Carr 4.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Man of the match: Matty Nicholson – made a massive difference on his return, as a prop able to bust through the line.

Referee: Chris Leatherbarrow (St Helens) – passed up plenty of opportunities to award penalties, particularly York’s way.

Penalties: 5-2.

Half-time: 16-6.

Attendance: 402.

Weather: pleasant evening.

Moment of the match: it was great to see Matty Nicholson not only back out on the field but crashing over to score within four minutes of his long-awaited return.

Gaffe of the match: York needed to steady things after taking an early lead but Doug Flockhart spilled the ball, and he also failed to challenge for a chip to the corner that brought Swinton’s equaliser.

Gamebreaker: the first try after half-time was crucial, and Swinton, continuing their good form of the first period, got it four minutes in to go 22-6 clear.

Match rating: the first half belonged to Swinton, who looked a much more confident side. York made most of the breaks in the second, but without the necessary joy on the back of them.