YORK City Knights ended London Broncos’ ambitions of qualifying for the Betfred Championship play-offs after a dramatic 32-22 victory at the LNER Community Stadium.

In their final home match of the 2021 season, and what may prove to be the last game of the year should the trip to Sheffield Eagles not be rearranged, York were excellent for more than an hour.

After falling behind early on, York rallied to score five times and appeared to be cruising to victory with 10 minutes to play.

But three quick-fire tries against the run of play saw London hoping to clinch a late result amid a period of frenzy in the home defence.

London had left themselves with too much to do though and a last-minute goal from one of four retiring Knights stars James Green sealed the victory.

Those players hanging up their boots after this season, Green, Ryan Atkins, Danny Washbrook and Tim Spears as well as departing forward Sam Scott were the centre of this occasion, all four being among those to be honoured by the club post-match.

While York were hoping to send those veterans off a fond farewell, London headed into the game knowing that a victory would secure them a spot in the play-offs at Whitehaven’s expense.

York head coach James Ford insisted his side would not be treating this as a dead rubber ahead of a transitional off-season.

He did though remain keen to blood through the team’s youngsters Myles Harrison, Toby Warren and AJ Towse were all in from the start, the latter making his Championship debut.

And, as so often this season, York fielded a new half-back pairing, their 13th different combination there this year.

Matty Marsh, fresh from signing a new two-year deal with the club, joins Aidan McGowan in the halves.

The latter created a goal-line drop-out with a teasing grubber that Atkins was close to touching down and it summed up a rapid start by the hosts.

But then came a sucker blow as, on 11 minutes, London went in front. It all stemmed from a barraging run from Tendai Gwaze, who batted off a couple of defenders before being held down, winning his side a six-again.

From that, London had the perfect position to capitalise through Greg Richards, the prop proving too big and too strong near the line. Chris Hankinson added the extras.

York quickly rallied though and, albeit with a fair amount of luck were quickly on level terms.

Marsh took the ball from an Atkins grubber and appeared to grubber the ball far too heavily only for it to hit the posts.

Captain Chris Clarkson was on hand to provide the touchdown and a Myles Harrison goal duly followed.

Minutes later the Knights moved in front as, following a penalty for holding on Jack Teanby, Harrison kicked in behind the London defence and a Broncos winger fumbled the pick-up.

Jason Bass and Tyme Dow-Nikau both seemed to have got a hand on the ball, but the former was announced as the scorer.

London did have chances, with Josh Hodson and Daniel Hindmarsh held up in quick succession and Matty Fozard knocking on over the line.

But York clinically responded with a brilliant try, going from one end of the field to the other, as Danny Kirmond grounded a Spears pass from close range.

Myles Harrison was unable to convert either score, both from kickable range, to leave York 14-6 up at half-time, which failed to reflect their dominance of proceedings.

Straight after half-time, the Knights continued to show plenty of desire and ambition. Marsh was on the scoresheet yet again in 2021, finishing off a great break by Jason Bass down the left wing.

This time, Harrison was on target with the boot.

A couple of penalties gave London the chance to hit back but Tuoyo Egodo failed to finish some lovely build-up play that had Jarrod Sammut at its heart.

On 54 minutes, York all but sealed the win. Dow-Nikau looked to have run out of room when he collected Marsh’s pass but he stretched out to touchdown. From the flank, Harrison’s kick was good.

Soon after, McGowan went off injured, meaning Washbrook was set for a longer stint than planned and reverted to the halves.

And, even at 37, he showed he had magic left in his feet, producing a sublime dummy near the line to score, with Harrison adding the two.

In to the final quarter of an hour, London seemed resigned to defeat. They twice failed to with short kick offs and passes regularly hit the deck.

But Chris Hankinson got through a gap before Jacob Jones spun over from a metre out, Hankinson converting the latter.

Then with a couple of minutes to go, as York’s proficiency for conceding penalties continued, star man Tendai Gwaze got on the end of a grubber under the posts. Another Hankinson goal left London trailing by eight.

There was indeed late drama but not in London’s favour. Not on the hooter, a tussle between the players broke out, leading to a yellow card for Sammut.

York let retiring James Green successfully score the kick to end a pulsating encounter.

York: Harrison, Towse, Dow-Nikau, Atkins, Bass, Marsh, McGowan, Green, Jubb, Teanby, Scott, Warren, Clarkson.

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

Tries: Clarkson (15), Bass (19) Marsh (42), Kirmond (33), Dow-Nikau (54), Washbrook (59)

Goals: Harrison (3/6), Green (1/1)

London: Hankinson, Miski, Chamberlain, Hodson, Egodo, Leyland, Meadows, Richards, Fozard, Gwaze, Lovell, Adebiyi, Walters.

Subs (all used): Sammut, Hindmarsh, Jones, Moran.

Tries: Richards (11), Hankinson (68), Jones (71), Gwaze (78)

Goals: Hankinson (2/3)

York’s man of the match: Jack Teanby. Made solid metres all game and was tight in possession.