YORK Knights produced a stunning win to defeat play-off chasing St Helens 34-32 on Yorkshire Day.
Six tries for the Knights, including a brace for Oli Field, saw Mark Applegarth’s side clinch a seventh win of their Betfred Super League season, rising into tenth position as a result.
A first win over the Saints in 80 years means York continue to reach new heights, with a performance that captivated a packed out LNER Community Stadium.
On their first ever visit to the LNER Community Stadium, Jake Davies put St Helens ahead after just three minutes, but two quickfire tries from Jon Bennison and Field saw the Knights edge in front.
Shane Wright’s converted try meant the game swung back in the favour of Eamon O’Carroll’s side, before they added to that lead through Jack Welsby, who Applegarth had been hugely complimentary of pre-match.
Denive Balmforth’s 35th minute try meant York headed into the break at 16-apiece, with it all to play for in the second-half.
Paul Vaughan and Nikau Williams both scored second-half tries before the hour mark to give the Knights a ten point advantage, which was reduced as Welsby completed his brace.
But the Knights got one final needed try with Field bagging his second, meaning efforts from Harry Robertson and Jacob Douglas late on weren’t enough for the Saints to take anything from the game.
There wasn’t a lack of nerves for the home crowd though, who will have felt relieved when Hastings missed the kick that would have seen the game end in a draw.
A welcome win for the Knights sees them end a string of defeats, having fallen against both Huddersfield Giants and Toulouse Olympique, but it also means that they have now won four of their last six matches.
Applegarth handed a debut in his starting 13 too, with Andy Djeukessi linking up with the squad on loan from Newcastle Thunder.
The outside back is formerly of Castleford Tigers and Workington Town, and has done enough with partner club Newcastle to earn a call up to Super League York.
Fellow new signing Matty English wasn’t included after he agreed to join on a rest-of-the-season loan deal from Huddersfield, whilst David Nofoaluma remained absent through a HIA.
On St Helens’ first ever visit to the LNER Community Stadium, Applegarth had pleaded to supporters to make it an unwelcoming environment for the 13 visitors out on the pitch.
Despite that brilliant atmosphere from the home contingency, it was the visitors who pulled in front with four minutes on the clock.
Welsby’s lingering kick exposed some concerns for the Knights, who failed to deal with the danger before Davies leapt on the loose ball and produced the opener.
Hastings added the extras from the wide angle, making it 6-0 early on.
York began to apply pressure to the Saints backline, who had conceded over 100 points in their three matches prior, and the Knights got their reward shortly after.
After a penalty and a six again went in favour of York, a move out left was picked up by former Saint Bennison, who drove through to get the Knights on the board.
His resulting conversion attempt flung wide.
The Knights were then celebrating again as they pulled in front, again profiting from a penalty.
Field received a pass close to the visiting try line and wriggled his way through for his first of the afternoon.
Bennison added the extras to make it 10-6.
The lead was short-lived however, with St Helens first levelling the scores following a knock on by a Knights, which was taken advantage of by Wright.
They were then ahead as Hastings slotted over.
Daniel Suluka-Fifita almost added to that lead only to be denied due to a forward pass in the build-up, but the Saints would get that desired breakthrough again through Welsby.
After Roberston played a pass from the right into Welsby, he beat off York’s attempted challenges to ground the ball.
Hastings’ conversion effort was too high for the sticks, despite his appeals to the referee.
The Knights would have the last laugh before the break as Balmforth produced some lovely footwork to find a route through, grabbing York’s fourth try of the afternoon.
Bennison’s added two meant it was all square for half-time.
Some early pressure on the Knights back line in the second-half went unpunished, before York’s position in the contest was made harder when they were reduced to 12 men.
With Ata Hingano producing a high challenge on Davies, a review from the video referee resulted in the Tongan being sin-binned.
But despite being a man down, the Knights played as if they still had 13 – and were justly rewarded.
After some pressure on St Helens’ line, the experienced Vaughan powered through to pull York ahead.
Bennison converted to make it 22-14.
They quickly extended that lead further, with a penalty from the kick-off allowing Cody Hunter to put the ball into a dangerous area on the last.
It was won by Williams, who grounded the ball after deliberation from the referee.
Bennison again added the extras.
St Helens weren’t going down without a fight, and shot back as Robertson broke away from his own try line, laid it off for Tristan Sailor, who played it into Welsby to score his second.
Hastings converted again.
After changes from both coaches, the Knights fought for a sixth try of the afternoon and got it when a smart offload into Field saw him crash over the try line.
Bennison’s added two took York’s tally for the day to 34 points.
It would be all they needed for the win, but they didn’t escape a late scare.
Hastings’ kick into a dangerous area ricocheted into the path of Robertson, who did well to ground the ball.
After a successful video referee review for the Saints, Hastings added the extras.
And there were hearts in mouths as Douglas reduced the deficit to just two points, with little over two minutes to go on the clock.
With the pressure mounting, Sailor took over on kicking duties, but his conversion attempt was sliced wide – much to the joy of the home crowd.
The Knights held on for a famous win over St Helens, and will look to take this momentum into their final five matches of the season.
YORK KNIGHTS: Mata’afa, Djeukessi, Galeano, Williams, Bennison, Hunter, McShane, Martin, Inman, Va’a, Foster, Field, Hingano
INTERCHANGES: Balmforth, Vaughan, Thompson, Buchanan
TRIES: Bennison (11), Field (12), Balmforth (35), Vaughan (53), Williams (56), Field (71)
GOALS: Bennison 5/6
ST HELENS: Welsby, Murphy, Davies, Sailor, Douglas, Robertson, Hastings, Suluka-Fifita, Burns, Walmsley, Wright, Host, Shorrocks
INTERCHANGES: Sinclair, Humphreys, Keeley, Matagi
TRIES: Davies (4), Wright (22), Welsby (31, 67), Robertson (76), Douglas (78)
GOALS: Hastings 4/5, Sailor 0/1
POINTS SEQUENCE: 0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 8-6, 10-6, 10-10, 10-12, 10-16, 14-16, 16-16, 20-16, 22-16, 26-16, 28-16, 28-20, 28-22, 32-22, 34-22, 34-26, 34-28, 34-32
HALF TIME: 16-16
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