8:02am Thursday 3rd August 2006
By Peter Martini
AT half-time, York City Knights supporters were wondering if the Great Escape was beginning at, of all places, the mighty Hull KR.
The Knights led 10-0 and were worth it, their defence being particularly notable.
At full-time, however, it was another case of if only.
Mick Cook's men were still in the game in the dying moments, but then Makali Aizue ran on to one of James Webster's through balls to touch down and take the game beyond the Knights, Pat Weisner's drop goal with the last kick of the game merely rubbing salt into the wounds and making it 21-10.
No-one had given York a hope before kick-off. Okay, Rovers might have been a little tired after their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to St Helens on Saturday, but they are the runaway National League One leaders. It was full-timers versus part-timers, top against bottom. A York victory would have been the shock of the NL1 season and reignited the Knights' hopes of beating the drop.
That they came so close nevertheless proved there is fight still in the camp, though how they lift themselves for Sunday's game against Batley is now the key to their survival chances.
If they play anything like they did last night, they will have a chance.
Commitment and enthusiasm in defence was key to York's performance, and they began as they meant to go on, keeping Rovers out as they camped on their line.
York slowly eked a hold on the game and Danny Grimshaw's first touch of note saw him force a dropout with a well-placed grubber kick.
From the attack that followed, Chris Spurr ignored an overlap and went on alone for a shock tenth-minute lead.
It got better as Liddell's pinpoint crossfield kick was taken unchallenged by Peter Fox, who scored, with Lee Paterson converting from wide out.
Cook, for a change, had had a few selection choices to make and shuffled things around a bit, not least by giving rookie scrum-half Grimshaw his debut a few days after signing amateur forms from Castleford Tigers Academy.
That decision was reported in The Press yesterday Cook deciding to run with the 20-year-old Sharlston Rovers product as Scott Rhodes and Paul Thorman were both ruled out.
But in a surprise on the night, prop David Bates was left out, which meant Aussie bruiser David Buckley had to at times move up from his starting position in the second row. Buckley was a constant driving force in the first half, but on returning from a break on the bench had less of an influence.
Rovers coach Justin Morgan opted against resting his big-guns after Saturday and, barring a few injuries, fielded his strongest line-up, including new signings Weisner, Jon Whittle and Matty Brooks.
Maybe his side were feeling a cup hangover but they did not look like a side with a 100 per cent league record. Maybe they weren't allowed to, as York did not look like a side facing relegation.
The visitors, however, could not get errors entirely out of their system, with a few chances going begging as Rovers turned possession over surprisingly often albeit on a greasy surface only for York to give it back.
One such play saw Byron Ford intercept and break away, though opposite winger Fox caught him quickly and the chance went begging, the home support growing frustrated.
The hosts were back in it, however, five minutes into the second half as Ben Cockayne touched down Webster's little kick, Weisner goaling.
Neil Law nearly got on the end of fellow substitute Wray's grubber at the other end, forcing a dropout after which a penalty for reefing was awarded but, perhaps crucially, missed by Paterson from 30 yards, the Knights not for the first time lacking a recognised goalkicker.
Then, on an attack instigated out of defence by full-back Cockayne, Jon Steel scored in the corner to equalise.
Rovers began to build pressure, and they were aided by two York kicks. One was a poor dropout by Paterson, the other a penalty by Grimshaw which didn't find touch. Grimshaw's kicking game had been okay up to then, the youngster keeping things simple with ball in hand.
A penalty for accidental offside against Austin Buchanan then led to Rovers going ahead. Home hooker Ben Fisher used defender Adam Sullivan not square at the play-the-ball as a shield, then darted left with the defence unsighted to score.
It was a cruel blow, as was Aizue's gamebreaker. His run could be seen a mile away, but Webster's simple through ball was perfect and York, unfortunate though they may have been, were beaten.
Match facts
Hull KR: Cockayne, Steel, Whittle, Goddard, Ford, Weisner, Webster, Aizue, Fisher, Tangata-Toa, Morrison, Netherton, Gallagher. Subs (all used): Brooks, Fallon, Barker, Garmston.
Tries: Cockayne 45; Steel 57; Fisher 66; Aizue 78. Conversions: Weisner 45, Brooks 78.
Penalties: None. Drop-goals: Weisner 80.
Sin-binned: None.
Sent off: None.
Knights: Blaymire 8, Buchanan 7, Spurr 7, Potter 7, Fox 9, Paterson 7, Grimshaw 7, Sullivan 8, Liddell 7, Toothill 8, Golden 7, Buckley 7, Blanchard 8. Subs (all used): Wray 8, Spicer 7, Ward 6, Law 7.
Tries: Spurr 10, Fox 25. Conversions: Paterson 25.
Penalties: None. Drop-goals: None.Sin-binned: None. Sent off: None.
Man of the match: Peter Fox good try capped a superb all-round display, his running the ball out of defence being of particular excellence. Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham).
Rating: Okay.
Penalty count: 7-8.
Attendance: 3,036.
HT: 0-10.
Weather watch: Wet and miserable typical English summer evening.
Gamebreaker: At 14-10 with a few minutes left, York still had a chance, but Makali Aizue's try took Hull KR two scores ahead with second on the clock.
Moment of the match: When Chris Spurr ignored the overlap to score, it gave York a shock lead and raised hopes a minor miracle might be starting.
Match rating: Good fare on a wet night but ultimately galling disappointment for the Knights.
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