YORK City Knights returned to winning ways in the Betfred Championship after securing a 30-12 victory over fellow play-off hopefuls Whitehaven RLFC at the LNER Community Stadium.

Here are five things that we learnt from the game.

1. Somehow York's play-off hopes are still alive

Despite York's 2021 Championship season featuring a run of six straight defeats, somehow the Knights' faint hopes of achieving a play-offs remain alive after this latest league win.

Without going into every different permutation of results involving York and London Broncos, who occupy the sixth and final play-offs spot, it looks like the Knights will need to win all of their remaining matches and hope for a slip up from the capital club.

Just how many games York will play between now and the end of the season is as yet unknown.

The Knights are currently scheduled to play away at Toulouse Olympique next month, although that trip appears unlikely to take place given that the league leaders are yet to play in France this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

There are also question marks surrounding York's away game with Sheffield Eagles, which was postponed earlier this season amid Covid-19 cases in the South Yorkshire club's camp.

Should those games go ahead, York will have a better chance of qualifying for the play-offs. But with all that said, they are reliant on London slipping up and given they host bottom half Sheffield and relegated Swinton Lions next, that appears highly unlikely.

2. Tyme Dow-Nikau has his best game in a York shirt

It would not be hyperbole to describe Tyme Dow-Nikau's performance against Whitehaven as the best that we have seen so far from him since his move from North Wales Crusaders.

Dow-Nikau played in just four of York's first 17 games this season and, while his size and strength were clear to see, he seemed to lack a little in awareness on occasions in attack and defence.

Now he has raced to the front of the queue in regards to highly-contested centre positions, with Liam Salter being deployed on the wing, such is Dow-Nikau's form at centre and the potential impact on the team that moving him from there would have.

Now with regular game-time under his belt, having started the last five matches for York, the son of York and Castleford legend Tawera Nikau seems to have plenty of confidence whenever he takes to the field.

Against Whitehaven he produced a strong tackle when jumping out from the line, forcing an error and ending a Haven attack.

And at the other end of the field, his sublime half-break through a couple of defenders and one-handed flick out to Perry Whitley was spectacular to watch.

Long may his form continue.

3. Matty Marsh set to remain in the halves...

York head coach James ford revealed after the win over Whitehaven that he sees Matty Marsh retaining his place at half-back in the team after a string of impressive recent performances there.

Marsh has been York's stand-out player throughout 2021 and has proved himself as being adept at either full-back or half-back.

After signing from Hull KR as a half, he was converted by Ford into a full-back and top-scored for York in 2019 as number one.

The 2021 season has seen Marsh switch back and forth positionally amid the injury crisis at the club, with first choice pair Morgan Smith and Brendan O'Hagan playing just eight times between them this year.

As the team's primary kicker, Marsh led York around the field superbly and demonstrated just how important he is to this side.

Whether at half-back or full-back, that influence continues to grow.

4. ... which leaves a full-back spot up for grabs

Given that Ford sees Matty Marsh as a half-back moving forwards, the key now is who will replace him at full-back from now until the end of the season.

Ben Jones-Bishop started there against Whitehaven and, all things being well, Ford should have more options to choose from there for this weekend's home game against Bradford Bulls.

Kieran Dixon and Aidan McGowan may both come into the fold after their coronavirus issues.

While Dixon is best suited to the wing, he has previously covered at full-back and played there frequently previously in Super League.

McGowan meanwhile is an out-and-out full-back, but he has yet to play first-team rugby league and Ford may be unwilling to debut him in such a tough game as Bradford.

Youngster Myles Harrison is also on the fringes too, we should not forget. Time will tell which option Ford chooses to go.

5. No significant injury issues to report

After a bruising encounter at Featherstone, which saw multiple enforced changes against Haven, it was thankful that Ford reported no serious injury concerns after the game.

The knocks to forwards Danny Kirmond and Ronan Dixon are thought to be manageable.