York City Knights grind out 30-18 victory at Barrow Raiders

York edged a thoroughly entertaining first half which saw six tries in all to lead 22-12 at half time.

While the Premier Sports viewers had been treated to a points-fest so far in this televised contest, after the break witnessed a masterclass in defence from the Knights.

For at least the opening 20 minutes of the second half, Barrow threw the kitchen sink at the York line who stood firm to tides of consistent pressure before sealing the victory through a decisive Liam Harris try.

The Knights had to dig deep in the mud-bath victory at Batley Bulldogs in February but this effort may well have topped that, particularly given the attacking threat of their opponents.

As a result, York remain in third and have re-established their three-point gap in such a position after 10 Betfred Championship matches.

Quite remarkably, given the spending power of the top two, the part-time Knights are closer to Leigh Centurions, in second, than to fourth-placed Batley Bulldogs.

The result also marked successive wins over notoriously tough Cumbrian opposition having beaten Whitehaven last time out.

James Ford made three changes from that side, the most notable of which was the return of half-back Jamie Ellis, who came in on the bench, from injury.

Also back after a groin issue was winger Will Oakes while Joe Porter returned in the pack.

Levi Edwards dropped out with a minor knock, with Sam Davis and Marcus Stock also missing out.

With Ellis beginning from the bench, Brendan O’Hagan took the lead kicking responsibilities and in a bright York start put the Barrow backline under the cosh early on.

That momentum was soon relieved when the Knights conceded a penalty from which the hosts scored. Anton Iaria took a short pass by Sam Brooks before reaching out a hand to score.

Jarrod Sammut converted his first of three goal attempts.

It did not take York long to respond though as, just minutes later, Ryan Shaw threw a pass to his left edge but found Knights winger Joe Brown who raced to the line from halfway.

Liam Harris continued to take the kicking tee duties and scored his first of six two-pointers.

Back came Barrow in the topsy-turvy first half, winning the short restart before seeing Danny Langtree and Jarrod Stack held up as York stood strong on their goal-line.

Ever since being promoted as League One champions last year, Barrow have been billed as the Championship’s entertainers, never afraid to try the extravagant.

The Raiders chanced their arm too much though when attempting to pass 10m from their own line and losing the ball.

York took full advantage and from a left shift play captain Chris Clarkson showed great hands to put Oakes over in the corner.

Knights head coach Ford talked up the threat of Barrow talisman Sammut in the build-up and the half-back showed all his class with a divine reverse kick which fell perfectly into the path of Luke Cresswell for the full-back to touch down.

In response, Harris came up with a similar play to reassert a lead that York would not relinquish.

Chipping over the top, Matty Marsh raced past his marker to ground Harris’ sublime kick off the back of a penalty.

As ever, Pauli Pauli was causing problems through the middle and his charge won another York penalty from which the visitors were over again before half time.

In a replica try to the one scored at Workington Town in the previous visit to Cumbria last month, hooker Will Jubb dropped the ball off for Jordan Thompson to charge over.

York took a 22-12 lead into the second half and seemed to have started smartly - Pauli making an unsuccessful break before the Knights won a six-again.

However a Jack Teanby knock-on begun a remarkable 20-minute period of sustained pressure on the away defence.

Ellis Gillam was the first to be held up, later followed by Charlie Emslie, as Barrow won set after set on the York line, only to be met by a stern and determined backline. Jake Carter was the next Barrow man to be sensationally denied.

The pressure seemed to have been relieved when Sam Eseh coughed up possession from close range but the Raiders soon broke upfield through the pacy Tee Ritson.

Despite their early defending, the Knights rushed back and Harris - probably the smallest defender on the field - denied a Raiders attacker.

Just after the hour mark, York could finally breathe when Sammut’s pass failed to cleanly find Brooks.

In the end, ill-discipline cost Barrow. Four penalties or six-agains in the space of as many minutes allowed York to score the decisive try, with Harris reaching out a hand to touchdown with 15 minutes left.

Oakes was then denied a try in the corner from Ellis’ cut-out pass but the Knights did add to their lead through a Harris penalty goal.

With three minutes left, Barrow finally crossed the whitewash, a fitting reward for their pressure in many ways.

Gary Wheeler was the man to get over, crossing from Sammut’s pass. It mattered little to final result though with York able to celebrate another hard-fought away win seconds later.

Barrow: Cresswell, Ritson, Wheeler, Shaw, Toal, Carter, Sammut, Brooks, Wood, Gillam, Langtree, Stack, Iaria.

Subs (all used): Mossop, Eseh, Wells, Emslie.

Tries: Iaria (6’), Cresswell (27’), Wheeler (77’)

Goals: Sammut (3/3)

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

Subs (all used): Ellis, Teanby, Dixon, Porter.

Tries: Brown (11’), Oakes (21’), Marsh (31’), Thompson (37’), Harris (66’)

Goals: Harris (5/6)

York’s star man: Jordan Thompson. Ran a great line for the try before half time and defended tough for 80 minutes.

Referee: Michael Smaill

Attendance: 2,260

Penalties/Six-agains: 7-9

Goal-line drop-outs: 0-2