York City Knights 18, Sheffield Eagles 25

Chris Thorman’s men were the better team against visitors Sheffield in the third meeting between the sides this season but it was the Eagles who once again went on to win, albeit by a much smaller scoreline.

The Knights again seemed to do the basics right. They made fewer errors, completed more sets and had more territory – all looking good on the stats sheet, especially in such greasy conditions following a torrential pre-match downpour, which left huge puddles all over the pitch.

But the lack of creativity or execution at the danger zone again reared its ugly head.

It’s a problem pinpointed by coaching staff, fans and players alike, but the solutions at present seem hard to come by, even against the second-worst defence in the division. That said, new recruit Ben Johnson showed enough on his home debut to suggest he might just be the missing piece of the jigsaw.

The Knights were still looking favourites to win after equalising at 18-18 in the final quarter after their one and only team try.

But, cruelly, a rare mistake by York – and by probably their most consistent performer so far this season, Adam Sullivan – proved costly. He lost possession in his own half and from a rare Sheffield set in home territory, Dom Brambani somehow got through five men to score.

Both sides had fielded the same 17s as had been beaten at the weekend, the Eagles having lost 34-32 to Leigh while York were falling at Swinton. Visiting captain Jack Howieson was okay to play after a minor bug. York had few other options due to injuries.

The Eagles had a couple of breakaway half-chances but otherwise the first half was played largely in their half – the visitors the ones making the unforced mistakes.

That was until a misunderstanding involving Thorman and John Davies saw the ball go loose 15 metres from the Sheffield line, with Sheffield going up the other end to score through full-back Quentin Laula-Togagae. Simon Brown added the first of his four conversions.

Heads in the crowd immediately began to drop, but not on the pitch, and Johnson provided a piece of individual excellence the club had hoped he’d bring to Huntington Stadium.

The young scrum-half, in his second 80 minutes since his dual-registration move from Castleford, popped up from nowhere to steal the ball from Laula-Togagae and have an easy run home. Thorman goaled.

Johnson provided moments of sparkle throughout, despite the forward-friendly conditions.

York’s first real error took 28 minutes to arrive – sub Joe Hemmings fumbling a play-the-ball in his own half – which shows they were playing solidly, if not enterprisingly.

The defence made up for it on that occasion, but the next, a penalty against Matt Garside, the first free-kick of the game, which came after 33 minutes, proved more costly as Laula-Togagae finished superbly.

A jinking run by Johnson early in the second half nearly brought a second riposte by the little scrum-half.

However, it was his opposite number that created the next score, Brown’s reverse kick catching the Knights napping – James Houston in particular on his heels – and Vinny Finigan was the ultimate recipient to score.

Again York hit back, but again it was out of nothing, as captain James Ford showed blistering pace on an 80-metre interception try.

Suddenly tails were up, though, and increased confidence brought about an equaliser. This time it was a team try, too, the ball going through several pairs of hands, with George Elliott diving into the corner.

They so nearly did it again, Thorman sending Davies through, only his pass to Ford, flying up in support with the line in sight, went to ground under pressure.

As it was, Brambani’s try at the other end with 12 minutes left, was decisive. Brown added a late drop-goal to seal it, before some even later fisticuffs saw Jack Lee and Misi Taulapapa sin-binned.

match facts

York City Knights 18, Sheffield Eagles 25

Knights: Tansey 7, Bush 7, Ford 7, Garside 6, Elliott 7, Thorman 6, Johnson 8, Sullivan 7, Lee 7, Aldous 8, Houston 6, Davies 6, King 7.

Subs (all used): Turner 6, Sutton 6, Clarke 6, Hemmings 5.

Tries: Johnson 26; Ford 50; Elliott 54.

Conversions: Thorman 26, 50, 54.

Penalties: None.

Sin-binned: Lee 78.

Sent off: None.

Sheffield: Laula-Togagae, Finigan, Yere, Taulapapa, Morrison, Brown, Brambani, Howieson, Henderson, Stringer, Knowles, Green, Hirst. Subs (all used): Scott, Higgins, Straugheir, Hepworth.

Tries: Laula-Togagae 21, 34; Finigan 47; Brambani 68.

Conversions: Brown 21, 34, 47, 68.

Drop goal: Brown 76.

Penalties: None.

Sin-binned: Taulapapa 78.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Ben Johnson – not yet bedded in following his arrival on dual-reg from Castleford a week ago but he showed individual sparkle that could be the inspiration the team need.

Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven) – okay.

Penalties: 5-4.

Half-time: 6-12.

Attendance: 462.

Weather: Pleasant but torrential downpour 90 minutes before kick-off left huge puddles all over the pitch.

Moment of the match: A team try for York as the ball went through several pairs of hands before George Elliott dived in at the corner to equalise at 18-18.

Gaffe of the match: Adam Sullivan losing the ball in contact was ultimately costly.

Match-breaker: Dom Brambani should have been wrapped up but got through several men to score and put Sheffield 24-18 up with 12 minutes to go.

Match rating: Decent affair in greasy conditions, and a good reception from York fans.