YORK City Knights returned to winning ways in the Betfred Championship as a strong second-half showing secured a 30-12 victory over Whitehaven RLFC.

York led 12-6 at half-time but the result looked as if it could swing either way still as neither side managed to stamp their authority on proceedings, with consistent errors produced by both teams.

The quality of the Knights shone through though after the restart as scores from Marcus Stock, Perry Whiteley and Sam Scott sealed a rare victory over a club above York in the league table.

The result sees York rise to eighth, breathing down the necks of Haven, but still some distance behind London Broncos, who occupy the last play-off spot.

A somewhat scrappy performance from York in the first 40 minutes was to be expected in some respects, given the ongoing injury crisis that continues to surround the club.

Head coach James Ford was forced into several alterations from the side which went down to Featherstone Rovers last time out.

In total, six changes were made with the injured Brendan O’Hagan, Kriss Brining, Tim Spears, Jordan Baldwinson and Adam Cuthbertson all dropping out, along with recalled loanee Corey Hall.

In their place, Perry Whiteley, Danny Washbrook, Marcus Stock, James Green, Danny Kirmond and Liam Salter returned to the fold, the latter making a rare start from the wing.

Thankfully for the Knights, Matty Marsh and Corey Johnson were passed fit to start in the halves, taking York to 12 different half-back pairings this year.

The Knights made a perfect start and found themselves in front after just three minutes.

Off the back of a penalty, they marched upfield and, after Ben Jones-Bishop went close, Jack Teanby dived under the sticks from James McDonnell’s short pass.

York strong start quickly faded as cheap handling errors in their own half gave Whitehaven some impetus, though they failed to seriously trouble the York line.

Somewhat against the run of play, soon after York doubled their lead. Sam Scott produced a specialty of his this year, a well-timed offload near the try line, and Jones-Bishop wrestled his way over defenders on the line to score.

Marsh added the two conversions and was 100 per cent from tee all afternoon.

Despite their advantage on the scoreboard, York’s overall performance had not been that impressive though.

Mistakes in possession continued and would ultimately prove costly. Ronan Dixon knocked on in his own half and Haven punished them.

Whitehaven spread the ball to the left and Lachlan Walmsley - who has been tipped for a Super League move - touched down before converting from the touchline.

Fortunately for York, thereafter the visitors seemed to match up them in terms of the number of errors and mistakes they were conjuring up.

The Knights probed forward with a few kicks and it was increasingly evident that they were short of half-backs in this regard.

Haven were easily able to field them all and head into half-time just six points behind. It could well have been a four-point deficit had Walmsley’s 50m penalty kick had a little more accuracy.

But whatever James Ford said at half-time clearly had an immediate impact. Only two minutes of the second half had been played when Marcus Stock got over the line.

After running a nice line in the play before, he took Johnson’s dummy-half pass and darted under the sticks.

York’s cause was aided by Whitehaven’s proficiency for coming up with errors, while the Knights had largely eradicated theirs after the break.

There were some familiar concerns for Ford to deal with in the second half though. The sight of Marsh going down on his back was hugely concerning but thankfully he lasted the distance.

Forward Danny Kirmond did not see the finish though, which is somewhat worrying given his recent injury issues.

Regardless, York were the side creating all of the chances. Marsh knocked on after dummied through from close range before Kirmond was held up.

On 58 minutes, man-of-the-match Tyme Dow-Nikau produced a moment of class. The attack looked like it had gone dead when the ball hit the ground but the centre stepped through a couple of defenders and threw a wonderful one-handed pass to Whiteley for an easy touch down.

After Whitehaven’s restart kick went out on the full, York marched upfield and Marsh handed off for Scott to get over the line.

At 30-6 the game was now well beyond the reach of the away side.

Whitehaven did though make a big late push to reduce the deficit, if not to overturn it.

An army of York defenders quickly surrounded and held up for Ryan King despite it looking for all the world as if he would cross the whitewash.

Andrew Bulman also thought he had scored in the right after beating Whiteley to a high kick, only for the referee to rule it out, with the tackle being deemed complete.

In the penultimate minute though Haven did at last get over for a deserved second try. Quick hands near the line and tiring York defenders saw Jake Bradley squirm under the posts.

Walmsley added an easy two points form in front of the posts.

It was scant consolation for Whitehaven though as the referee soon confirmed a win that had long seemed like it be York’s.

York: Jones-Bishop, Whiteley, Dow-Nikau, Atkins, Salter, Marsh, Johnson, R. Dixon, Jubb, Teanby, Scott, McDonnell, Clarkson.

Subs (all used): Washbrook, Stock, Green, Kirmond.

Tries: Teanby (3), Jones-Bishop (14), Stock (42), Whiteley (58), Scott (62)

Goals: Marsh (5/5)

Whitehaven: McNally, Bulman, Mossop, Dixon, Walmsley, Jouffret, Williams, Shackley, Newton, Graham, Holliday, Cooper, Bradley.

Subs (all used): Aiye, King, Thomas, Thornley.

Tries: Walmsley (20), Bradley (78)

Goals: Walmsley (2/2)

York’s man of the match: Tyme Dow-Nikau. Some great hits in defence and a brilliant pass for Perry Whiteley out wide.