IT might have ended in defeat but York City Knights laid down a marker for themselves yesterday with a performance full of pride, effort and ability.

Mick Cook's men led Northern Rail Cup favourites Castleford until the 65th minute, after which two tries took the group stage points back to the Jungle.

But although the result confirmed they would not progress in the competition, it must have lifted belief in the camp - and among the supporters - ahead of the National League Two campaign which kicks off on Easter Monday.

Cas perhaps won this game because of two things: the extra legs in the final quarter derived from their full-time status; and their winning mentality, an inherent belief borne of weekly victories - something the Knights hope to engender during the league campaign.

However, the Super League hopefuls were given a run for their money and by a side, it must be remembered, which was without 12 players through injury or suspension, including the last-minute withdrawal of prop Tom Buckenham.

This side also featured two trialists, Sharlston amateurs Lee Lingard and second-row James Ward. Both impressed, with full-back Lingard marking his debut with a wonderful 40-metre solo try, bursting onto a short pass and rounding the full-back brilliantly.

That try came on the half-hour, giving the Knights a 16-8 half-time lead which was fully merited given their effort, especially in defence, which stifled the attack and forced Cas into errors.

The newly-arrived Simon Friend may have had an influence in that department. The workaholic Aussie, who was awarded the sponsors' man of the match, put in some inspirational trademark tackling, but he was not alone, with Adam Sullivan and John Smith - who was thrust into the front row - notably taking on the big Tigers pack, while stand-off Scott Rhodes pulled off a couple of try-savers in an admirable team effort.

It all made a mockery of the 52-2 opening day loss at The Jungle and, with a few improvements here and there and a bit more belief at the end, it could easily have yielded the Tigers' first defeat of the year.

It began well for the Knights as Calvin Watson touched down a loose ball from a Rhodes bomb, albeit with the aid of an apparent Neil Law knock-on not seen by the officials.

Paul Thorman goaled brilliantly and, although Cas quickly hit back as Tommy Haughey crossed, York kept on top of the game, with Thorman booting a penalty following one of several high tackles by Cas prop Adam Watene - who was lucky to still be on the field by the time of his 78th-minute sending-off for another high tackle.

If York were lucky to be awarded their opening try, then Cas were just as fortunate to equalise as Michael Shenton touched down a grubber seemingly about a foot short of the try-line.

But that didn't knock the Knights off their stride as Thorman regained the lead with another penalty for another Watene high shot - this one went on report - followed soon after by Lingard's converted try.

The Knights were given a boost after half-time when Andy Kain was yellow-carded for persistent lying-on but they failed to take advantage and indeed Cas scored while a man down through Andrew Henderson, who took two defenders out with a dummy.

Then a harsh yellow card for John Smith for lying-on put Cas a man up and Haughey scored his second try to give them the lead for the first time with 15 minutes left.

Cas gave York little chance to hit back and, after winger Waine Pryce had two tries ruled out by cover defence, Andy Kain found a gap to round off the win late on.

Match facts:

Northern Rail Cup

group match

Sunday, March 20, 2005

at Huntington Stadium

Knights 16, Tigers 24

Knights: Lingard 8, Fox 8, Callaghan 7, Law 8, Watson 7, Rhodes 8, P Thorman 7, J Smith 8, Elston 8, Sullivan 8, Ward 7, Friend 8, Liddell 8. Subs (all used): Jackson 8, N Thorman 6, Sozi 8, McDowell 7.

Tries: Watson 7; Lingard 30. Conversions: P Thorman 7, 30. Penalties: P Thorman 15, 22. Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: J Smith 61. Sent off: None.

Tigers: S Kain, Pryce, Reid, Hepworth, Shenton, A Kain, Handforth, A Watene, Henderson, F Watene, Haughey, Crouch, A Smith. Subs (all used): Lunt, Cooke, James, B Smith.

Tries: Haughey 10, 65; Shenton 19; Henderson 55; A Kain 75. Conversions: Handforth 55; A Kain 75. Penalties: None. Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: A Kain 52. Sent off: A Watene 78.

Man of the match:

Adam Sullivan - A non-stop effort taking the big hits against sizeable opponents up front. One of several contenders for the award.

HT: 16-8

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield). Rating: It's crazy that someone from around Castleford (he's in the Wakefield Referees' Society but is a Cas lad) should referee a Cas game. He wasn't biased though - he was bad for both teams.

Penalty count: 10-9

Gamebreaker: The harsh sin-binning of John Smith for nothing more than lying on deep in Cas territory was followed by the try that put Cas ahead just after the hour mark. York struggled to regain control thereafter.

Attendance: 2,340

Weather watch: A mild, calm pleasant afternoon

Match rating: Good game, good atmosphere, fine tries, disallowed tries, controversial refereeing, yellow cards, red card. It had pretty much everything.

Updated: 10:15 Monday, March 21, 2005