YORK City Knights hadn’t beaten bogey team Barrow in ten previous meetings and that hoodoo continued as the Cumbrians bagged three late tries to triumph 20-6 in a compelling contest at Bootham Crescent.

Perhaps of more immediate concern for York’s class of 2016 than that run stretching back to 2007 is the current sequence of four straight defeats – the worst since the 11-game losing run that heralded relegation to League One in 2013.

In fact, they haven’t lost more than two on the bounce since those Championship days.

The current run is mitigated, of course, by the fact it includes two away games at moneymen Toulouse, plus all the recent off-field problems. The team’s heroism in last week’s troubled trip to France should not be forgotten.

But unless this losing form – and the off-field uncertainty - ends quickly, the top-five play-off hopes could slip away and a promising season end in tatters.

Should the slump end – and who’s to say it won’t with this team’s spirit? - they may still have to end their Barrow jinx in the knockouts, with the Raiders, on a six-game winning run, now looking real promotion contenders alongside runaway leaders Toulouse.

Whereas Knights boss James Ford was convinced by the ugly defeat to the big bruisers late last year that he needed to add of oomph and niggle to his pretty patterns, Raiders counterpart Paul Crarey has added guile to their strength and discipline to previous unpleasant effectiveness – in doing so making for a better all-round team.

To that end, playmaker Jamie Dallimore passing fit was a big plus, his kicking game – regularly sending the ball out – often leaving York having to start over deep in their own territory.

Errors were also rare and line breaks kept to a minimum, the hosts having few sets in the danger zone.

After the much-publicised problems prior to last week’s game in France, the Knights were back up to a full complement, with fit-again Ben Dent and available-again Mark Applegarth, Kriss Brining and Russ Spiers coming into the 17.

James Haynes and the crocked Adam Dent were omitted but the other 13 heroes of Toulouse kept their places, Rich Wilkinson passing a late fitness test.

However, new injury woes struck after only 11 minutes, Matty Dale helped off in obvious dismay. Just as it looked like his injury problems were over, his season may now be finished.

Moreover, having played all of last week with only 15 men, York played most of this with 16.

Furthermore, big Brett Waller – the one York player who could maybe out-size Barrow – stayed sidelined due to an “internal matter”. Danny Nicklas also missed out on a recall.

Barrow should have scored soon after Dale’s departure.

Dallimore’s kick to the corner caught full-back Wilkinson dallying, then followed a penalty. But with an overlap formed, the cut-out pass to winger Chris Fleming went to ground.

The Raiders began to get on top territorially and a James Morland spill on halfway gave them an additional platform, Ryan Fieldhouse knocking on as he tried to stretch over.

A tiny Josh Tonks fumble was also spotted by referee Scott Mikalauskas, Pat Smith smartly diving on a loose ball from a kick to allay that danger.

The Knights had to turn the momentum. Instead a harsh penalty against Mark Applegarth gave Barrow more impetus. More excellent goalline defence followed.

A rare breakaway nearly created an opening but Wilkinson forced the offload and the ball was lost.

Just as it seemed the storm had been weathered, another great Barrow charge saw the deadlock finally broken nine minutes from half-time.

Tommy Saxton and Josh Tonks stretched every sinew to hold Cameron Pitman up over the whitewash. But Chris Hankinson found a gap, the stand-off also converting.

York needed something special but when Harry Carter provided impetus with a brilliant dart from dummy-half, the hooter sounded with the Knights pressing.

They did get their try three minutes after the restart – be it by design or brute force.

It was the last tackle and – in what looked like anything but a planned end-of-set move –Spiers took the ball first up and simply charged through, Morland goaling.

For the most part, defences stayed on top, both sides winning yardage, York kicking in play to corners and hunting in packs, Hankinson always to touch.

Crarey had predicted a “war” and indeed it was hard and tough, albeit without breaking rules of combat. But home chances were at a premium.

Either a piece of magic or a mistake would turn the game. Or some luck.

A York player turned his back on a kick but, after it ricocheted off him, ref Mikalauskas awarded Barrow another set. Still, Fieldhouse was halted inches short, big Joe Bullock held on his back over the whitewash on the last tackle.

However, just as York again looked like doing something, Morland overplayed, his quick-hands pass finding only touch 40 metres from his own line.

Barrow had the platform and, as the tiring defence got stretched, winger Eze Harper benefited from the overlap, putting his side ahead again nine minutes from time.

Then came Raiders magic – Hankinson skipping past Morland’s weak tackle and sending Harper over again.

Both of Hankinson’s touchline conversions bounced out off a post.

Morland has tools to threaten but it wasn’t his day. Trying to make up for his mistakes, he was tackled into touch as York pressed for late hope.

Instead, Brad Crellin sealed victory on the final hooter, Hankinson goaling.

MATCH FACTS

Knights 6 Barrow 20

Knights: Wilkinson 6, Saxton 8, E Smith 8, Morland 5, B Dent 6, Presley 6, P Smith 6, Applegarth 8, Brining 7, Aldous 8, Tonks 7, Dale 6, Emmett 7. Subs (all used): Carter 7, Spiers 7, A Smith 7, Hey 5.

Tries: Spiers 43.

Conversions: Morland 43.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Barrow: Fieldhouse, Harper, Pitman, Wiper, Fleming, Hankinson, Dallimore, Bullock, Mossop, Wilkes, Harrison, Crellin, Aspinall. Subs (all used): Abray, Bate, Holmes, Brennan.

Tries: Hankinson 31; Harper 71, 73; Crellin 80.

Conversions: Hankinson 31.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Man of the match: Tommy Saxton – the winger worked hard on the flank and inside, got out a few of his trademark offloads, and tried to help turn the tide York’s way.

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas (Leigh) – the late replacement for Warren Turley, fresh from reffing Wigan v Wakefield on Friday, did okay, though he could have been helped with offsides by his touch judges.

Penalty count: 7-3

Weather: windy but warm.

Half-time: 24-10

Attendance: 665

Moment of the match: Russ Spiers’ try was the only time the Knights breached Barrow’s defence.

Gaffe of the match: James Morland had a nightmare last ten minutes. His pass to touch set the platform for Barrow’s second try, his missed tackle handed them their third, and he was also tackled into touch as York failed to find a riposte.

Gamebreaker: York still had a sniff at 10-6 down with seven minutes to go, but after Barrow then broke through for their third try, just moments after the second, there was little chance of York bagging two late scores to turn it round.

Match rating: low-scoring and with defences on top but it was a tough, compelling encounter, Barrow probably deserving their points.