ONE of the great churches of Toulouse, St Sernin’s Basilica, was built on the spot where the city’s bishop died after being dragged through the streets by a bull as punishment by the Romans for preaching Christianity.

It’s fair to say many York City Knights fans expected their shorthanded team to endure something similar – in a sporting sense – before likewise perishing in the biggest city in south west France.

But head coach James Ford had said his 15 heroes had chance to “write an amazing story” of their own as they took on the powerful home team in frankly ridiculous circumstances. And, while miracles only really happen in the Bible, Ford’s apostles indeed threatened to script a ludicrous walking-on-water-like feat against all the odds, before ultimately being sunk.

The team had in one sense already risen from the dead, playing this game just nine days after they were told the club was to fold and they were all free agents.

But rising from the dead, re-energising themselves following such demoralising events and beating full-time undefeated League One leaders in soaring heat with two-and-a-half men fewer, a couple of fringe first-teamers and half a dozen who hadn’t played much in a while, could only really happen in fairytales.

The expected defeat duly took place, Toulouse Olympique winning 46-16.

But bear in mind they put 80 points past a full-strength Keighley on this ground not too long ago. Keeping the score down and being so competitive against players who have played in the NRL was almost a story of fiction in itself.

As reported by The Press, the Knights only had 14-and-a-half men firstly because several could not get the time of work to travel at such short notice, the game having been in doubt right up until Thursday afternoon given all the off-field carry-on.

Several more were ruled out through injury, top-scorer Kriss Brining stayed home for a funeral, and Brandon Westerman, set for his debut on loan from Castleford, did not show, his York career over before it began.

They had only one recognised prop, Jack Aldous, and, although Ford had declared “Yes but what a one to have,” even Mr Duracell was not likely to out-compete all four of Toulouse’s big guns over 80 minutes. He probably did three, mind.

Back-rower Matty Dale, in and out due to injury and without an appearance since mid-June, filled the other starting prop slot, and how well did he do.

Former Bradford winger Andy Smith, with only two and half games behind him since returning to the sport, put his hand up as replacement prop. The veteran had never played there in his life.

James Haynes, returning from a year out after a knee reconstruction, meanwhile, was the “half”, the other interchange, pencilled in for maybe ten minutes.

The last thing they needed was another injury, but Adam Dent, Rich Wilkinson and James Morland all alternately got crocked. Dale regularly received treatment.

They all put hands up to carry on, but it effectively made it 11-and-a-half fit men - or 11-and-three-quarters as Haynes ended up battling on longer than planned.

It also meant more work for Aldous and Dale up top as Andy Smith switched to the wing.

The other thing none of them needed amid the extra workload was for the south France sun to shine and sap energy even more.

Naturally, the game kicked off in 33 degrees Celsius, although a thunderstorm and rain before half-time was probably welcome.

There is also a silver lining of the past week, too.

If a promotion-chasing League One team could choose a game to forfeit in the Super 8s, it’d probably be this one.

Big-spending Toulouse have swept all aside here this year, including York a month ago 44-6. They average 50 points home and away and are odds on to finish the season unbeaten, so even a full-strength buoyant York side would have done well to take away more than no points.

That they even threatened a shock was a story in itself.

But Ford’s boys did that, going 10-0 up inside six minutes as they punished home sloppiness.

After a penalty won by Tommy Saxton, a curving Mike Emmett grubber wrong-footed full-back Mark Kheirallah, and Emmett touched down, James Morland taking on goalkicking duties and converting. Then, after a penalty for an elbow on Aldous, Harry Carter arced round the short side from dummy-half and rolled over the try-line.

That lead lasted 28 memorable minutes, until the interchange situation took its toll and Toulouse took things up a gear or two.

Brad Hey pulled off a stunning try-saver on Kuni Minga but four tries followed in the next nine minutes, Danny Hulme benefiting from a James Morland error to start it off.

Maxime Puech ran over Rich Wilkinson for the next, the league’s top scorer, Minga, sprinted home for a cracker and Rhys Curran crossed for a 24-10 interval lead.

That’s how it stayed until 52 minutes, York having their fair share of possession after half-time but maybe trying too hard to make things happen.

Johnathon Ford, one of the tormentors in chief last time, had been rested for last week’s defeat of Keighley but was back here in a full-strength Olympique line-up and his skill got the scoreboard ticking again, Greg White the scorer.

York did their best to reserve energy - walking to scrums, re-lacing boots, losing contact lenses, treating cramp, old schemer Dale staying down. But they also played rugby when they could, and amazingly got further reward.

They went close as Kheirallah got to Jonny Presley’s kick just before Hey.

But then Ed Smith and Dale got out remarkable offloads and Presley cannoned into a post and touched down under pressure. Morland goaled.

Either side of this, tired errors handed tries for Minga, Clement Boyer and Anthony Marion, Kheirallah ending with seven conversions to seal matters.

But, forget the result on paper, this display, this heart, this pride, is evidence these Knights can still target promotion.

And if they achieve that after recent events, it would be something of a miracle.

MATCH FACTS

Toulouse 46 Knights 16

Toulouse: Kheirallah, Maurel, Ader, White, Minga, Ford, Hulme, Boyer, K Bentley, Canet, Planas, Curran, Marion. Subs (all used): Kriouache, Hepi, Puech, Mika.

Tries: Hulme 28; Puech 31; Minga 34, 59; Curran 37; White 52; Boyer 71; Marion 76.

Conversions: Kheirallah 28, 31, 34, 37, 59, 71, 76.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Knights: Wilkinson 10, A Dent 10, Hey 10, Morland 10, Saxton 10, Presley 10, P Smith 10, Dale 10, Carter 10, Aldous 10, Tonks 10, E Smith 10, Emmett 10. Subs (all used): Haynes 10, A Smith 10.

Tries: Emmett 3; Carter 6; Presley 67.

Conversions: Morland 3, 67.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Man of the match: Mike Emmett – to be fair every one of these Knights deserve this accolade at the very least, loose-forward Emmett, Jack Aldous and Josh Tonks leading from the front in a performance of grit, pride, effort, heart and no little ability.

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas (Leigh) – good, and probably understood the Knights needed extra breathers.

Penalty count: 4-8

Weather: 33 degrees Celsius and humid, before thunder and rain came during the first half – probably welcomed by the much-depleted Knights.

Half-time: 24-10

Attendance: TBC

Moment of the match: seeing the Knights team take to the field a week or so after many people were left believing the season had ended prematurely with the club set to fold. All three York tries were special too. As was the guard of honour, full of mutual respect, that the two teams gave each other after the final hooter.

Gaffe of the match: there were errors, some costly, but the biggest mistakes it is fair to say have come off the field, helping to leave the team in such an impossible position.

Gamebreaker: after the Knights somehow went 10-0 up and held that lead until the 28th minute, the four Toulouse tried in the run-up to half-time turned the game and there was not going to be a way back.

Match rating: not nearly as one-sided as most expected. These patched-up Knights deserve all the accolades they get and more. Credit, too, to Toulouse for the hard but fair spirit they played the game in, clearly knowing their opponents were heavily shorthanded. That guard of honour said it all.