A SOLID if not overly spectacular second-half display kept alive York City Knights' hopes of progressing in the Northern Rail Cup.

Mick Cook's men trailed 10-4 at half-time yesterday but had the Post Office Road slope in their favour after the interval and for much of it made sure the game was played out near the bottom of it.

They eclipsed the six-point deficit with a two-try salvo within nine minutes of the restart, and a fourth try just after the hour-mark, plus some strong forward play in the heavy conditions, kept the anxiety at a premium thereafter.

Featherstone - even without key Aussie half-back Josh Weeden, who was not risked as he returns from a leg break - were not as bad a team as some York fans had expected, especially up front where Stuart Dickens and Ian Tonks excelled as usual, while former Knight Carl Hughes was a constant threat at stand-off.

But York always looked more accomplished, even when behind, and never really looked in danger of losing control once they gleaned dominance in the second half, despite a late Featherstone try that had a few weak hearts a flutter.

Featherstone did, however, start the better. Knights winger Paul Clarke lost the ball when forced back to his line from the kick-off - a mistake which set the tone for the youngster's error-prone first half - and York only survived when Craig Fawcett dropped a high pass.

Then Paul Thorman, back in the team to improve the Knights' kicking game, saw his first punt charged down and, as Fev attacked, York were thankful Jason Golden got back to deny former York half-back Carl Hughes.

Thorman's second kick went out on the full but his third forced an error from home winger Wayne McHugh and from the attack York were only denied a try for a forward pass by Scott Rhodes to scorer Golden.

The Knights were not denied a few minutes later, though, and Thorman was involved again as his pass on the back of a flowing move, started by a Craig Forsyth off-load, saw James Ward score. Thorman missed this kickable conversion but was successful thereafter.

Forsyth and Ward were both making their first appearances of the season as Cook picked a big pack to combat the opposition and it paid off as all the York forwards did their bit.

Golden had another score harshly disallowed for obstruction at the play-the-ball by John Smith and Fev hit back as Ian Tonks' off-load allowed Hughes to sprint 40 metres home.

Then Danny Kirkland darted through a bit too easily to score, Dickens converting, and with the penalty count eking up to 5-1 in the hosts' favour, York were finding themselves under the cosh.

At the other end, enthusiastic defence proved too difficult to breach even though the penalties evened themselves out to 7-6 at half-time. But that changed after the break when, on the back of arguably the best move of the match, Jim Elston darted over from acting-half.

They had a great chance again when Thorman's long pass created an overlap but loose-forward Golden marred a fine personal show when his poor pass was put down by winger Lee Lingard. Never-theless, a home mistake immediately set the platform for another attack and Smith battled over.

Smith's superb pass then saw Bates touch down, but referee Ronnie Laughton was not at the right angle to see it and instead saw the ball spill away - either that or Bates put it down on a defender's ankle - so ruled the try out.

This could have been costly as Rovers twice had the chance to equalise but both times they ignored an overlap and on the back of five continuous sets they finally settled for a two-pointer for holding down.

Straight away, however, York full-back Matt Blaymire won a penalty and, from that, stand-off Scott Rhodes dummied over for a ten-point lead.

York thereafter built pressure and, while they didn't break through again, they usually handed the ball over on their terms close to the home line.

When Rovers finally did break upfield, a counter attack should have brought more points for York but Ward put down Blaymire's pass with men over. The next time Rovers got in the danger zone, they scored through Paul Hughes but the last four minutes passed without too much anxiety.



Rovers: Moss, McHugh, Batty, Kirmond, Wray, C Hughes, Fawcett, Tonks, Dobson, Dickens, Dooler, Crouch, Nicholson. Subs (all used): P Hughes, Close, Shillabeer, Carlton.

Tries: C Hughes 18; Kirmond 21; P Hughes 76.

Cons: Dickens 21 Penalties: Dickens 57.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None Knights: Blaymire 6, Clarke 5, Spicer 6, Farrell 6, Lingard 6, Rhodes 7, Thorman 6, Sullivan 6, Liddell 7, Forsyth 7, Smith 7, Ward 6, Golden 7. Subs (all used): Elston 6, Buckley 7, Helme 7, Bates 7.

Tries: Ward 12; Elston 46; Smith 49; Rhodes 61.

Cons: Thorman 46, 49, 61.Penalties: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None o Man of the match: Jason Golden The youngster worked his socks off at loose-forward as the Knights' big pack as a whole ploughed ever onward through the Lionheart Stadium mud.

HT: 10-4 Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley). Rating: Harshly ruled out two York tries, which on another day could have been costly, but otherwise wasn't too bad.

Penalty count: 9-10 Gamebreaker: Scott Rhodes' try shortly after Stuart Dickens had raised home hopes with a penalty put York two scores ahead leaving Rovers with more of an uphill battle.

Moment of the match: Craig Forsyth's offload out of the tackle set the Knights on a fine flowing move up the slope which ended with James Ward touching down York's first try.

Attendance: 1,322 Weather watch: Dry but quite cold on a heavy pitch.

Match rating: Both sides, probably York more so, lightened up the heavy going up front with some good handling attacks.