YORK City Knights secured successive victories for the first time since May as they came from behind to defeat Widnes Vikings 34-20 at the LNER Community Stadium.

Having come out of the other end of a torrid run of form, York now finally have something to shout about.

Like the win over Swinton a fortnight ago, the Knights again welcomed back key spine players, the most notable of which was Brendan O’Hagan, who marked his return with a hat-trick.

York have moved up to eighth with the victory and while they remain well behind the top six, they at last can look up rather than down the table.

James Ford made five changes from the side which comfortably defeated Swinton Lions a fortnight ago. Jordan Baldwinson, Kriss Brining, Ben Jones-Bishop and O’Hagan all came back in injury or coronavirus concerns.

The latter started alongside Leeds Rhinos loanee Corey Johnson in the halves - taking the Knights to 12 different half-back pairings this year.

Jason Bass, Kieran Dixon, Mikey Lewis, Adam Cuthbertson and Marcus Stock all dropped out.

James McDonnell also came back in after returning on loan from Wigan Warriors and the back-rower made an immediate impression when he legally stole the ball from Lewis Hulme on the try line.

That was about as good as the chances got in the early exchanges, with both sides going set for set with no errors.

However, on nine minutes, Widnes took the lead with a classy move that began with a wide offload from Adam Lawton to Deon Cross. The winger raced away and fed the ball inside to Joe Lyons who set up an easy score for Jack Owens.

In front of the posts, Owens scored his first of two conversions from four attempts.

Until that point, Matty Marsh had peppered bombs at Jayden Hatton to little effect but his dribbling kick was taken on the flank by the winger only for him to be shoved in touch by Marsh.

York then had another set deep in Widnes territory off the back of a penalty and from it O’Hagan cleanly dummied his way over.

Taking over kicking duties in Kieran Dixon’s absence, Marsh kicked his first of five goals, missing just once from the tee.

Widnes hit back almost immediately and again it stemmed from a well-picked offload, which York consistently struggled to handle.

Cross latched on to a Steve Tyrer pass and the winger raced through the middle to ground.

York got themselves back level only five minutes later though. They again forced a Widnes man over the sideline, this time Lawton, and marched upfield.

O’Hagan then put in a well-timed grubber which Cross completely missed, so the Australian grounded it himself.

There remained times left in the half for two more scores, both of which went the way of the visitors.

The first had a good deal of fortune as Matty Smith’s kick hit the back of a York player and Joe Lyons took the loose ball and twisted over.

But the second was all skill from the Vikings. Craven hoisted a high kick to the left side and Tyrer out-jumped the York defence before dotting down.

Fortunately, Owens could not convert either of those scores and York went in just eight points behind at the break.

York though made the perfect start after half time, with two tries in quick succession putting them ahead for the first time.

First, live-wire interchange Kriss Brining won a penalty and the Knights forwards then made considerable metres.

That allowed Dow-Nikau to barrage over down the right. Then, off the back of an earlier Sam Scott offload, the centre was over again after some good build-up work by Danny Kirmond.

Ahead, by two, for the first time in the match, York quickly lost their discipline and errors crept in.

Johnson and McDonnell both cheaply lost possession and the Knights were let off by Widnes being similarly careless with their ball handling.

The next score looked crucial, with both sides struggling to make clear-cut chances. And it was York that found it.

Shortly after a penalty, McDonnell would not be stopped as he hurdled challenges on his semi-break. O’Hagan was in support and crowned his return with a hat-trick.

A fourth Marsh goal improved the advantage to a two-score lead.

Widnes looked like a beaten side, even with a quarter of an hour to go. The results of two penalties in quick succession summarised their second half.

The first ended in Lyons spilling the ball while the latter saw the wind take the kick to touch and York win back the ball.

But errors crept back in for York who invited some late pressure. The Knights knocked on in their own half before conceding a penalty as it looked like Hatton would dive in at the corner.

But they held firm and Dow-Nikau just about fielded a Craven kick to the corner.

With five minutes left, York finally secured the victory. A timely penalty gave them the field position and Jack Teanby, excellent in his carries all game, bagged a try that his performance merited.

The prop forward was too big and too strong from 10m out and ensured that the win would be York’s.

York: Marsh, Whiteley, Dow-Nikau, Hall, Jones-Bishop, O’Hagan, Johnson, R. Dixon, Jubb, Teanby, McDonnell, Kirmond, Clarkson.

Subs (all used): Scott, Brining, Baldwinson, Spears.

Tries: O’Hagan (15, 26, 58), Dow-Nikau (43, 46), Teanby (75)

Goals: Marsh (5/6)

Widnes: Owens, Hatton, Tyrer, Spedding, Cross, Craven, Lyons, Tilleke, Hulme, Baker, Grady, Lawton, Smith.

Subs (all used): Farnworth, Edge, Brookes, Roden.

Tries: Owens (9), Cross (20), Lyons (32), Tyrer (36)

Goals: Owens (2/4)

York’s man of the match: Jack Teanby. The prop carried strongly all game and he got a try at the end that was well-deserving of his overall performance.