IF York City Knights are to reach their end goal this year, they will have to take the long route as in 2010.

Gary Thornton's men, with only one other match since August 17, looked rusty, off the pace and disjointed, and they were duly beaten 31-12 by a battle-hardened Oldham team in today's qualifying semi-final at Huntington Stadium.

A similar performance next week back at the same venue against arch-rivals Hunslet Hawks will see their promotion hopes demolished, just like the stadium itself in the coming months.

However, in 2010, the Knights likewise lost to Oldham in the qualifying semi but still then won through to the Grand Final where they memorably overturned that result to win promotion.

If that is a good omen, then so is their record of three wins against Hunslet this year, without reply, the last being on that August 17 date, when they came back from 18-8 down to win 20-18 and effectively seal the league leaders' trophy. Next week will be an even bigger occasion.

The other good thing for York is the fact they now have this game under their belts and some much-needed match sharpness.

They will surely not be taken by surprise again, Oldham having begun today like a juggernought to catch the hosts on the hop, giving them no opportunity to ease their way back into competitive action.

Aided by a referee who hardly ever dragged the defensive line back the full ten metres - it varied from eight at best to five at worst - the Roughyeds swarmed all over Thornton's charges, preventing them from gaining any impetus or playing any of the fast, free-flowing rugby that brought a 54-12 victory the last time the sides met amid a ten-match winning streak that garnered the title success.

The visitors were also able to score points at the other end, four first-half tries confirming their dominance, even if two of them looked decidedly offside.

The result made a mockery of the final league positions, York having come top, with Oldham third. The Roughyeds had also won at second-placed Hunslet last week to set up this tie, that victory being built on a second-half show - form which was carried over into today.

It also made a mockery of their boss Scott Naylor's assertion that they remained third favourites to win the Grand Final and go up. Surely now, on current form, they are favourites.

It was all Oldham in the first quarter and it began to show on the scoreboard.

A clever kick from Gareth Owen onto an upright gave Liam Thompson an easy touchdown, with Steve Roper adding the first of four conversions.

The second try came from a Lewis Palfrey kick, with York winger Ben Dent, challenged in mid-air, unable to take it, giving centre David Cookson an easy finish. Cookson, though, had looked offside from the kick.

Then from the restart, the excellent Danny Langtree broke upfield and sent in Stephen Nield.

York, shell-shocked, tried to find a way back into the game, knowing they had effected a fine comeback in the game away at Oldham earlier in the year, albeit in defeat. But they created only half-chances and these were missed.

When they did cross, skipper Jack Lee fighting his way over, referee George Stokes deemed the hooker had been held up, even though the in-goal touch judge signalled a try.

To rub salt into wounds, Stokes awarded Oldham a penalty the next time they touched the ball and Roper added two points.

Their next try, on half-time, also came with York attacking as Langtree intercepted a Kriss Brining pass from acting-half. The second-row showed great pace to go the full length - but even Usain Bolt would have been hard pushed to get off the line so quick to intercept without being offside.

York briefly threatened a comeback in the third quarter.

Brining superbly fought his way close, before Pat Smith sent a crossfield kick where the defence fumbled allowing James Saltonstall to score.

Then full-back Nield fluffed the catch under a Ben Reynolds bomb, Lee Paterson dribbling the loose ball over the whitewash and touching down. Reynolds added the goals and it was 24-12.

York attacked again but the momentum was lost as Stokes penalised one of their number for using a shoulder unlawfully. Then a touch judge awarded Oldham a scrum to help them maintain pressure, and Roper added a drop goal to put them three scores clear with ten minutes left.

George Tyson immediately sealed victory in sloppy circumstances. Ben Dent knocked on but rather than kill the ball, he ignored it as he admonished himself, allowing Tyson to steal in and run home.

Tyson crossed again in the last minute but this time was given offside - not that it mattered.

 

Knights 12 Oldham 31

Knights: Haynes 6, Saltonstall 6, Ford 6, Minikin 6, B Dent 6, P Smith 6, Reynolds 6, Roche 6, Lee 6, Aldous 6, Mallinder 6, E Smith 6, Paterson 6. Subs (all used): Brining 6, Brennan 6, Bell 6, Tonks 6.
Tries: Saltonstall 49; Paterson 63.
Conversions: Reynolds 49, 63.
Penalties: none
Sin-binned: none.
Sent off: none.

Oldham: Nield, Clay, Cookson, Jon Ford, Bloomfield, Palfrey, Roper, Joy, Owen, Boults, Crowley, Langtree, Thompson. Subs (all used): Ward, Mason, Hughes, Tyson.
Tries: Thompson 11; Cookson 21; Nield 23; Langtree 40; Tyson 71.
Conversions: Roper 11, 23, 40, 71.
Penalties: Roper 18. Drop goals: Roper 70.
Sin-binned: none.
Sent off: none.

Man of the match: Lee Paterson - tried to stem the tide in the first half, albeit in vain as Oldham were on top in all areas of the game.

Referee: George Stokes (St Helens) – a referee who appears worryingly arrogant amid a host of odd decisions. He allowed Oldham to slow down rucks and his "ten metres" when York were in possession ranged from five to eight.

Penalties: 6-5

Half-time: 0-24

Attendance: 663

Weather: pleasant

Moment of the match: Lee Paterson’s try, York’s second, after Steve Nield had fumbled Ben Reynolds’ bomb, gave York some brief hope at 24-12 down.

Gaffe of the match: Ben Dent knocked on an Oldham kick but rather than drop on the ball or kick it dead, he bemoaned his bad luck, allowing George Tyson to pick up, run home and seal Oldham’s win with their fifth try.

Gamebreaker: York had pulled it back from 24-0 to 24-12 and were on the attack again. Referee Stokes penalised someone for using a shoulder somewhere, giving Oldham position and possession. Another questionable decision gave Oldham a scrum, and Steve Roper kicked a drop goal to leave York needing three scores in the remaining ten minutes.

Match rating: far from the send-off York City Knights wanted for Huntington Stadium – though they at least get another chance next week.