York City Knights seal fifth straight league victory after 30-12 Whitehaven win

The two sides were well-matched for the first half hour at 12-12 but York found a second wind and managed to score three unanswered tries thereafter.

Liam Harris scored in each half for the Knights and was the stand-out performer for James Ford’s side, who further cemented their place in third, now three points clear of both Batley Bulldogs and Barrow Raiders.

With only nine league matches played, it remains too early to start taking an overly keen interest in the table.

But yet again, this was a York victory secured in convincing fashion. While it may have been nip-and-tuck through the first 30 minutes, Haven could not match the hosts in the second half.

After the mix-and-match nature of 2021, this year has seen Ford able to select a far more settled side.

The head coach made just one change to the side which convincingly beat Newcastle Thunder last time out, with Jacob Ogden coming in for his first appearance for over a month in the place of AJ Towse on the wing, as the latter struggles with illness.

Ogden, whose first-choice position is at centre, failed to make an immediate impact on the wing though. The former London Broncos back failed to take a chipped kick from the mercurial half-back Nikau Williams as the ball trickled over the sideline.

Combined with an injury to Danny Kirmond in backfield, the field position allowed Whitehaven to open the scoring through Ryan King, who proved too strong for Harris on the try line.

Williams scored his first of two conversion attempts.

The Knights were again defending their own line when they were caught out for a forward pass but held firm and forced Hull FC loanee Davy Litten into touch.

Whitehaven had much the best of the first 20 minutes but struggled to put further points on the board. Guy Graham was held up while a couple more errors were produced in York territory.

The loudest cheer of the first quarter was a penalty, for offside, the Knights won which led to their first try.

Brendan O’Hagan attempted to dummy his way over and appeared to have been pulled short but somehow he reached out a hand to touch down near the sticks.

Fellow half Liam Harris added the extras, his first of five successful attempts on goal.

Having struggled to make much ground going forward until that point, York suddenly found their attacking groove, moving in front seconds later.

Harris made a terrific break before O’Hagan threw the ball left and Edwards ran in at the left corner.

On the half hour though, Edwards lost the ball in own half to allow Haven levelled the match up at 12-12.

The equalising try came through Ryan King’s kick in-goal which bobbled for an age before Litten dived on the loose ball.

York’s brightest spark throughout was man-of-the-match Harris who, similarly to Edwards’ try, made a fine break to release Matty Marsh towards the line.

The full-back returned the favour with a marvelous diving offload after getting ankle-tapped for Harris to score.

The scrum-half’s conversion gave York what would prove to be an unassailable 18-12 lead at the break.

Having started so brightly in the first half, Whitehaven were unable to replicate such form in the second.

Back-to-back penalties for York put the hosts in striking range but Joe Brown was closed out of room on the right flank.

Haven though knocked on in the following set and, after winning a repeat set, York doubled their lead.

Having tried a scrum move down the left, the Knights instead went right, with Harris profiting from a dummy through the line.

Marsh thought he had scored in the same spot moments later after a fine Pauli Pauli offload and Edwards break, but the referee ruled a knock-on over the line.

The Knights won a drop-out and a six-again in quick succession but again had a try chalked off as Edwards was adjudged as held up despite the Main Stand cheers.

Only a play later and York were eventually over. James Glover continued his try-scoring streak and profited from Marsh’s well-timed delayed pass just after the hour.

The game fell into somewhat of a lull thereafter, with Whitehaven trailing by 18 points and pretty much out of the game.

York’s goal-line defence was solid in the face of some late Haven pressure, with Edwards making a vital interception.

Harris almost managed to cap off his stand-out performance with a late assist, grubbering through for the on-rushing Marsh but seeing his kick strike the post.

It mattered little to the end result, with the Knights once more safely home by the sound of the final hooter.

York: Marsh, Ogden, Edwards, Glover, Brown, O’Hagan, Harris, Matongo, Jubb, Pauli, Kirmond, Clarkson, Thompson.

Subs (all used): Teanby, Davis, Dixon, Stock.

Tries: O’Hagan (19’), Edwards (23’), Harris (35’, 46’), Glover (62’)

Goals: Harris (5/5)

York’s star man: Liam Harris. The half-back scored twice and was influential throughout. Five really well-taken goals too, a couple of which came from tough angles.

Whitehaven: Litten, Martin, M. Walker, Evans, Bulman, Aiye, Williams, T. Walker, Hookem, Graham, King, Moore, Wilkinson.

Subs (all used): Dawson, Cooper, Bradley, Hudson.

Tries: King (5’), Litten (31’)

Goals: Williams (2/2)

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas

Attendance: Not given

Penalties/Six-agains: 8-5

Goal-line drop-outs: 1-1