YORK City Knights are still alive and kicking – and how.

The odds were stacked in favour of a Halifax win at Huntington Stadium last night given current form, a result which would have hammered a potentially decisive nail in the Knights’ Championship coffin.

But Dave Woods’ men gave arguably their best, most committed performance of the campaign, to win 22-8 in front of Sky Sports cameras and claim three points that could save them from the drop.

This game could not have been more unlike the farcical 76-38 result at The Shay. York, especially their defence, could not have been more different. Utterly porous that day it was largely watertight last night, in all areas of the pitch, more than making up for any handling errors.

The only thing the home faithful could complain about is the fact their team had not played like this more often this year.

The Knights began on top, aided by a 40-20 by Chris Thorman, but could not take advantage. Gambling on playmaker Thorman’s fitness – he returned after five games out with a broken thumb – was always likely.

Barring injury, it was always likely to pay off too, given the 30-year-old’s pedigree – and he responded with a man-of-the-match performance, organising his troops, defending well, orchestrating attacks.

But Woods also made a couple of other surprise changes – swapping James Haynes and Tom Bush to full-back and the three-quarters respectively, moving Ryan Esders from second-row to centre, and bringing teenager Ed Smith back to the bench in place of fellow local lad Joe Hemmings.

All of them paid off, not least via the displays by Haynes and Esders. The latter had had a stinker at centre in Fax’s try-fest at The Shay, but he was backed to make amends last night and more than did so.

Halifax caretaker coach Damian Ball tweaked the line-up that beat Super League-bound Widnes a week ago to seal a play-off place, including putting fit-again half-back Ben Black on the bench. Black replaced Anthony Bowman just before half-time when the talented youngster hobbled off, but, like all of Fax’s playmakers, was not allowed room to play.

Ball actually had other commitments so was not at the game. Hooker Sean Penkywicz, the man who so destroyed York in that last meeting, was also missing, out with medial ligament damage.

Their team looked dangerous when Haynes had to pull off a fine cover tackle to deny Paul White after a pacy run, while other defenders held Bob Beswick on his back over the line. But, with Fax getting on top, Matt Garside broke away and the attack ended with Alex Benson crashing over, referee Tim Roby going to video referee Ian Smith for confirmation it was a try.

It was York captain Benson’s first of the season, and Thorman goaled.

An indifferent pass from Anthony Thackeray, though, was put down by Steve Lewis and Fax hit back through Paul White.

Decent defence prevented a second away try, Thorman sweeping up a kick expertly, with substitute prop Ben Jones then doing likewise after a rare handling error by Nathan Freer had given the visitors another set in the red zone.

Fax stayed in the ascendancy until Jack Lee scored a breakaway 75-metre try, only to be called back by Roby for a knock-on when gathering the loose ball. There was little home luck, too, when Esders stole the ball off White but was held up just short of the try-line. Or when a Thorman kick to the corner was just dealt with by the defence.

However, after York decided against going for a two-point penalty, a brilliantly disguised pass by hooker Lee saw Brett Waller score. Thorman goaled.

Haynes, excellent in the first period, was held up just before half-time after a jinking run, but the lead eked up to 14-4 when Thorman, having skewed a kickable penalty wide, booted a 55-metre effort after the hooter sounded.

The sides traded soft fumbles as the second half started in pouring rain, before York were denied when Rhys Clarke was felled as he headed home. Clarke and, soon, Waller, both knocked-on when playing the ball in the danger zone – wasted chances.

The next was not wasted. Thorman’s clever kick towards the posts was contested, fell loose, and Esders gathered and darted in. Thorman goaled. Then, after Fax’s kick-off flew out on the full, York attacked and Benson crashed in again – only for video ref Smith to rule a knock-on.

York’s defence appeared to be broken for only the second time in the match as it headed into the last ten minutes, but Thackeray somehow knocked the ball out of Danny Jones’ hands when his opposing stand-off seemed sure to sprint home.

York’s back line was finally breached in the dying minutes, White touching down a Jones kick, but Thorman – deservedly – had the last word with a second penalty from half-way, after the final hooter.

Match facts

Knights: Haynes 9, Bush 7, Sutton 8, Esders 9, Tuffour 7, Thackeray 8, Thorman 9, Freer 8, Lee 8, Benson 8, Lewis 8, Garside 8, Clarke 8.

Subs (all used): E Smith 8, Presley 8, B Jones 8, Waller 8.

Tries: Benson 13; Waller 34; Esders 59.

Conversions: Thorman 13, 34, 59.

Penalties: Thorman 40, 80.

Drop goals: None.

Halifax: Greenwood, White, Haley, Fieldhouse, Worrincy, D Jones, Bowman, Chandler, Beswick, Cherryholme, Clayton, Bannister, P Smith.

Subs (all used): Nash, Black, Aizue, Watene.

Tries: White 17, 80.

Conversions: None.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Man of the match: Chris Thorman – what a way to return from injury, pipping Ryan Esders and James Haynes to the award.

Referee: Tim Roby (St Helens) – generally okay.

Penalty count: 10-6.

Attendance: 1,056.

Half-time: 14-4.

Weather: fine until the rain came just before half-time.

Moment of the match: Alex Benson getting his first try of the season on the most important day of the season.

Gaffe of the match: More a last-gasp defensive effort as Anthony Thackeray caused Fax half-back Danny Jones to lose the ball when a try looked certain.

Gamebreaker: That miss by Jones came at a vital time in the second half, with enough left on the clock for a comeback.

Match rating: It was reminiscent of last year’s Championship One Grand Final, when York gave their best show of the season on the most important day of the season. Halifax, of course, won the Championship title on the same day, but the Knights denied them even the pleasure of a bonus point last night.