YORK City Knights’ youngsters were given a good lesson of what it will take to reach the first team as they lost 28-10 to Leeds Rhinos last night.

The Knights had a good second quarter in the Huntington Stadium snow and continued to do well in patches, but Leeds generally had better handling, organisation and that extra yard of pace.

It was ostensibly a reserves game, with the Knights fielding only one player – winger Dan Wilson – who featured in the weekend’s shock Northern Rail Cup win over Leigh.

That said, props Mark Applegarth and John Fallon and threequarter Steve Lewis, all of whom will surely press for first-team calls soon, also featured, although forward Carl Barrow, who was expected to captain the side, was left out, probably with Sunday’s first-team match at Sheffield in mind.

Player of the Year Applegarth, who has struggled to attend training, got a good 28 minutes under his belt before being replaced by Fallon, who made a decent return from injury. They also teamed up for a while in the second half.

Leeds’ academy side was bolstered by three first-team squadmen in hooker Paul McShane, back-rower Jay Pitts and prop Luke Ambler, who had a good month on loan at York last season. It was a similar line-up to that which comprehensively beat Hunslet last week, the Hawks having also fielded a reserve side with a few first-teamers.

They began this game on top too, as the Knights’ handling struggled to contend with the icy conditions.

Wilson was also troubled by a high kick, and, although the Knights’ defence on their own line initially made up for the error, carrying on from where the first team left off, they couldn’t stop McShane opening the scoring.

A knock-on by Chris Clarke – at least it looked like Clarke but the Knights were wearing those away shirts with the impossible-to-see numbers – then gave Leeds great attacking position, and, although they were twice held up over the try-line, loose-forward Chris Clarkson found a gap, McShane adding the first of his four goals.

That try came while York were reorganising as hooker Luke Helliwell, previously impressive, was being helped off the field.

The Knights’ first real attack of note, half an hour in, saw replacement hooker Williams – who made a difference – held up at the try-line, but their next brought a try finished expertly by Wilson.

Half-back Jy-Mel Coleman had been starved of good ball but his clever pass sent Wilson steaming home. Wilson was playing at full-back though was replaced as planned at half-time. Scrum-half Jonathan Schofield goaled.

Luke Hardbottle, who had been disappointing at second-row in a pre-season outing, did much better at prop – later being named man of the match. He might not have the size to be a front-rower in the long-term but he worked hard with one of a few good offloads coming in the build-up to that try.

The Knights finished the half on top but Leeds quickly increased their lead after the break with two tries, the first by Ambler, while they were denied another by a great ball steal from Tom Stancliffe, who had moved from the wing to full-back.

Trialist Glen Reid was prominent in a rare York attack but it was wasted as Lewis belied his experience, and generally a decent display, to be tackled into touch.

Lewis made amends from Schofield’s pass with the game’s last try, though that only came after McShane’s smart kick had brought Leeds’ fifth touchdown, by winger James Cruikshank.

Knights: D Wilson, Stancliffe, Lewis, Clarke, Smith, Coleman, Schofield, Applegarth, Helliwell, Hardbottle, Duckworth, Peacock, Hampshire. Subs (all used): Bell, Williams, Fallon, Reid, Falkingham, Dey.

Rhinos: Watson, Cruickshank, Normington, A Wilson, Chisholm, Casey, Carroll, Ambler, McShane, Sampson, Pitts, Carvill, Clarkson. Subs (all used): Hood, McDermott, Syron, Parkinson, Wool, Vincentio, Roche.