Knights 14, Doncaster 25

8:32am Tuesday 6th May 2008

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NOBODY could question the commitment and hard work displayed by York City Knights at Huntington Stadium yesterday.

It certainly didn't go unnoticed by the Knights faithful in the Pop Stand, as the old "York and proud of it" chant re-emerged in good voice at the final hooter.

However, that effort and enthusiasm was not enough to topple National League Two leaders Doncaster, who won 25-14.

It was a game that was in the balance at half-time after York had crafted a 12-0 lead only for the visitors to claw back level.

The second half saw Donny get on top, though, partly through their own ability to grind things out, largely because of the form of half-back Kyle Briggs, and partly because of York's failings, in particular regarding ball retention and creating pressure.

To say York threw the chance of victory away would perhaps be unfair. It was more a case of Doncaster, with a 100 per cent record so far, getting on top and knowing what to do to win close games. York don't yet have that know-how, notwithstanding their big victory at Blackpool last week.

Assistant-coach James Ratcliffe said some of the ball-play in the second half was "dumb". That terminology was perhaps a bit harsh, but his side certainly built little pressure after the break, unnecessary mistakes and poor decisions being to blame.

However, it cannot be forgotten that Ellery Hanley has a strong squad at the Keepmoat Stadium, with five ex-Super League players and five former Leeds academy aces, most notably stand-off Briggs, on show yesterday.

Briggs was the key man, scoring all their 13 points in the second half and superbly setting up the try just before the interval that swayed the game their way.

The bonus point picked up by Paul March's men was deserved, however, not least for their defence which was eager and in-your-face throughout.

That defence was to the fore early on as it repelled three consecutive sets, with Rob Spicer reaping the rewards at the other end.

The left-centre took a fine pass from player-boss March and, after seeing he had no support, superbly sidestepped the last defender. Ryan Esders goaled.

More good defence, with Danny Ratcliffe forcing the error with a try-saving tackle, maintained the lead, and the stand-off was immediately to the fore at the other end, his superb long pass seeing half-back partner March finish well.

Esders missed this conversion but added a penalty soon after, Lee Mapals having been held down.

However, York full-back Mapals knocked-on 15 yards from his own line, and this time the defence was not up to the task, Peter Green the one to benefit from close-range. Briggs goaled.

Esders, not the most consistent of kickers, booted the restart straight out, and, although the defence was back on song on that occasion, York's ball retention began to dwindle and the visitors drew level on half-time when Briggs weaved magic down the right and converted after giving Dean Colton the scoring pass.

Doncaster began to get on top, with more second-phase rugby opening gaps, but York had the first real chance of the second period, Ross Divorty and the March twins searing forward only for David March to be unable to get a pass out to a three-man overlap.

York did go ahead, though, as Esders kicked a penalty for ball-stealing.

Referee Craig Halloran was hardly in York's good books, though, and a penalty awarded for an aggressive tackle by Ekis - it wasn't the only time Halloran misinterpreted aggression for foul play - meant the Knights had to work again to keep the visitors out.

And it was that effort that took its toll, as, on their next attack, Doncaster kept the ball alive well and Briggs sidestepped a much bigger opponent, Scott Woodcock, and touched down under the sticks for an easy conversion.

Doncaster were thus ahead for the first time, at 18-14, and York were further troubled as David March was substituted, his calf problem recurring.

Superb 40-20s by Briggs and his half-back partner, Luke Gale, came to nothing, but Doncaster held the upper hand, and added to their lead with a converted interception try by that man Briggs, the otherwise hard-working Ekis being at fault with the pass.

Steve Lewis probably wouldn't have caught Briggs, but it wasn't good that he was blocked by one of York's own water-carriers on his way off the field.

One big last effort by the Knights failed to bring them back into it, and Briggs eked up the lead with a 75th-minute drop-goal. But at least it didn't deny the hosts the bonus.

Knights: Mapals 7, Oakes 7, Esders 7, Spicer 7, Lewis 7, Ratcliffe 7, March 7, Buckley 8, Hughes 7, Ekis 7, Divorty 8, Kelly 6, March 7.

Subs (all used): Greenwood 6, Bailey 7, Endersby 5, Woodcock 7.

Tries: Spicer 12; P March 21.

Conversions: Esders 12.

Penalties: Esders 27, 52.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Doncaster: Reay, Colton, Lucky Luisi, Bauer, Reittie, Briggs, Gale, Benson, Lawrie, Castle, Buttery, Lawton, P. Green.

Subs (all used): Jones, Wood, Hart, Haley.

Tries: Green 30; Colton 39; Briggs 59, 66.

Conversions: Briggs 30, 39, 59, 66.

Penalties: None

Drop goals: Briggs 75.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Dave Buckley - huge effort from the Australian, who will be delighted to have Adam Sullivan back at the club to help share the workload up front.

Referee: Craig Halloran (Dewsbury)

Rating: Got some things right, some things annoyingly wrong.

Penalty count: 11-10.

Weather: warm, pleasant.

Half-time: 12-12.

Attendance: 1,122.

Gamebreaker: Luke Briggs' second try, the interception effort that took Doncaster two scores ahead with 14 minutes left - it was hard to see York getting two tries after that.

Moment of the match: The sidestep by Rob Spicer that sent half the crowd, as well as the Doncaster defender, the wrong way and saw the centre open the scoring for the Knights.

Match rating: a tough game in which the Knights certainly competed but were ultimately overrun by a strong Doncaster outfit.