YORK City Knights boss James Ford had said his side owed Newcastle Thunder one – and, boy, did they give them one.

After league and cup victories earlier in the year, the Tynesiders – some pundits' tip for promotion after their takeover by Newcastle Falcons and ensuing recruitment – arrived at Elmpark Way eyeing a hat-trick against Ford's men.

But this time they were sent packing with a 40-8 defeat which, if slightly exaggerating the difference between the sides, certainly reflected the effort, energy and desire that the home team displayed.

The result, which cemented York's place in fourth, also sent out a message not only to Thunder, who fell to eighth, but the rest of League One in the race for the top-five play-offs.

Key to it all was the introduction of Kriss Brining after half an hour.

The young hooker was dropped for last week's win over Gloucestershire but that kick up the backside had the desired effect – he scored with his first touch and, within 22 minutes, completed a hat-trick with a mesmeric third try.

By the time he went back off the again, the scoreline had surged from 12-4 to 34-4 and the points were won. In between times, he also had a fourth try controversially ruled out.

It was not all about Brining, though. Far from it. This was one of those performances where every player played their part; making tackles, hitting hard, winning contacts, blasting over defenders, running around defenders, out-smarting opponents.

It was, in particular, a notable day for Nev Morrison. The winger missed last week's win after his granddad died but on his return he gave arguably his best performance in a Knights shirt.

He took difficult balls in defence, made hard yards inside, made good yards out wide and made sure everything he did came off. He deserved to cap it by getting on the scoresheet but, regardless, it was a performance of which he and and his family should be proud.

Moreover, he and Ben Dent, on the other wing, showed that dual-reg star James Clare – who it was revealed is to leave partner club Castleford for Bradford Bulls, so will not turn out for York again – might not be missed too much.

The scoring was started and finished by another top-notch performer. Great hands from Jonny Presley put Ed Smith charging through and the in-form second-row rounded full-back Louis Sheriff. James Haynes added the first of his five conversions.

Greg Minikin, perhaps a risky inclusion in Clare's place after recovering quickly from a hamstring injury, then marked his return with a piece of sublime brilliance.

Pat Smith went to the short side and the centre, with a shimmy-shake of the hips, somehow got between defenders before giving the scoring pass to Presley.

A couple of freak incidents gave Newcastle a foothold.

Firstly, when Pat Smith's pass from dummy-half hit a defender stood beside the play-the-ball, referee Dave Merrick awarded a handover, not a York penalty for offside.

Then a Hardcastle kick bounced horribly, giving Ben Dent no chance of getting out of goal. A penalty followed and so did a Thunder try, Sheriff's cute pass sending in Dayne Craig.

However, within three minutes, the Knights were 18-4 up – thanks to two substitutes. Ryan Mallinder made yards with his first touch, then Brining weaved his way home from dummy-half with his.

Brining was sure he had extended the lead three minutes into the second half but, to his disbelief, Merrick ruled out the grounding.

Newcastle had a chance on the back of an Ali Blair run and some helter-skelter rugby but the ball went to ground.

And then Brining did get his second. Matty Beharrell's awful pass saw Macauley Hallet fumble and, from the scrum, Michael Channing danced this way and that before getting out a skilful off-load. Brining needed no second invitation.

His next try topped the lot as he streaked away in centre-field and left the remaining defenders' legs in knots as he emerged goal-side.

Just after the hour mark, Brad Nicholson received a short ball and simply ran over two defenders to make it 34-4.

It all got too much for Thunder centre Joe Brown. One penalty for mouthing off – while in possession – gave York cheap ball. More dissent saw the penalty moved forward. Yet more saw Brown sin-binned, with Haynes kicking the penalty.

Thunder got a late consolation, Blair smartly getting the ball out for Hallet to score. But they were denied even the last word by a brilliant York try.

Channing, Minikin and Morrison did superbly to turn defence into attack. Presley then bided his time for Smith to steam around his outside, take the pass and steam to the try-line for his second of the day.

 

MATCH FACTS

Knights: Haynes 8, Morrison 9, Channing 9, Minikin 8, B Dent 9, Presley 9, Howden 8, Applegarth 9, P Smith 8, Aldous 9, E Smith 9, Tonks 8, Nicholson 8. Subs (all used): Brining 9, Roche 8, Mallinder 8, Learmonth 8.

Tries: E Smith 13, 79; Presley 20; Brining 31, 49, 52; Nicholson 62.

Conversions: Haynes 13, 20, 31, 52, 62.

Penalties: Haynes 66.

Newcastle: Sheriff, Hallet, Blair, Brown, Capper, Beharrell, Hardcastle, Barron, Simons, Martins, Welsh, Craig, Clarke. Subs (all used): Wabo, Mexico, Fewlass, Esslemont.

Tries: Craig 28; Hallet 77.

Conversions: none.

Sin-binned: Brown 66.

Man of the match: hat-trick hero Kriss Brining was devastating in his 40 minutes on the pitch, while the pack as a whole were immense. But the nod goes to winger Nev Morrison, who might not have scored but gave arguably his best performance in a Knights shirt in his first game back after a family bereavement. One to be proud of.

Referee: Dave Merrick (Castleford) – his overall control was okay but there were some questionable decisions from one of this division’s best officials and the ruck speed could have been faster at times.

Penalty count: 8-6

Half-time: 18-4

Weather: a bit breezy.

Attendance: 456

Moment of the match: fit-again centre Greg Minikin got between two defenders down the right flank like an eel between deep-sea divers to set up a try for Jonny Presley. And with his first touch after coming on as replacement hooker, Kriss Brining, recalled to the 17, picked up from dummy-half and went on a weaving run to the try-line. However, Brining then topped the lot with the individual try of the day from half-way to leave defenders bamboozled and complete a hat-trick. Not a bad response to being dropped.

Gaffe of the match: of the handling errors in the match, that by Macauley Hallet - unable to take a poor pass from Matty Beharrell 20 metres from his own half - was the most costly, as Michael Channing superbly set up Kriss Brining’s second try.

Gamebreaker: the start of the second half could have been key as Newcastle sought a comeback not unlike that in the iPro Sport encounter in March. But Kriss Brining made sure the day belonged to York with his second and third tries in the opening 12 minutes, after having another controversially ruled out.

Match rating: blame who you want for the community stadium dispute, but more people should be enjoying this fare. Those in attendance certainly gave their boys a deserved rousing reception at the end.