YORK Knights showed plenty of grit but ultimately suffered defeat to a play-off bound Wakefield Trinity side.
The Knights fell to a 28-12 defeat to Wakefield in a hard-fought affair, in which the two teams had been level with less than 20 minutes to play.
Whilst the defeat for York sees them sink to second bottom in the Betfred Super League and winless in four, the victory for Wakefield confirms their entry into this year’s play-offs.
It’s a level the Knights will aspire to reach after it was confirmed that a local ownership group, led by David Dickson, had taken control of the club in midweek.
Mark Applegarth’s side had fallen behind early on when Corey Hall’s converted try put Trinity in front, but York were able to claw some points back through Ben Jones-Bishop, scoring on his return to the team.
Lachlan Walmsley restored the six point lead for the hosts before the break, before a ruled out Tyson Smoothy try allowed Jon Bennison the chance to make it 10-10 early in the second-half.
Both teams scored penalties through Max Jowitt, who is rumoured to be York bound for 2027, and Bennison, tying the scores up at 12-12 with less than 20 minutes to play.
But Wakefield are in the Super League top six for a reason, and tris from Jayden Myers, Jowitt and Walmsley led the Trinity to victory in West Yorkshire.
Applegarth’s side will now look to end the season on a high with a final away match at Catalans Dragons next Saturday (7pm), before hosting Bradford Bulls in a curtain-closer the following Thursday (8pm).
The head coach named four changes to the team that were beaten 66-16 by Leeds Rhinos last Sunday, with Jones-Bishop headlining the names coming in.
David Nofoaluma and Tom Inman both dropped out of the side, whilst Xavier Va’a and Ata Hingano moved to the bench for York.
Jones-Bishop, Liam Harris, Paul Vaughan and Denive Balmforth were all brought in for starts, whilst Jesse Dee remained captain despite Harris’ inclusion.
For Wakefield, they granted Jay Pitts his 450th career appearance, and he was joined by Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Harvey Smith and Walmsley in the starting 13.
Former Knight Oli Pratt was alongside Tray Lolesio, Smoothy and Matty Storton in dropping out of the side.
Applegarth had been full of praise for his former employers pre-match, and will have had encouragement early on as both teams exchanged sets.
York were tested early on with a low Jake Trueman kick being dealt with, before the opening came in minute nine at the DIY Kitchens Stadium.
Jack Sinfield scooped up the ball on the last tackle and threaded a kick through the Knights back line to Hall, who dived through to open the scoring.
Jowitt added the extras.
The Knights found themselves under more pressure as Trinity hunted a second, but after earning a penalty of their own just behind halfway, they built the attack that led to first points on the board.
With the ball being shifted into Cody Hunter, he looped a kick into Jones-Bishop in the corner, with the veteran winger grounding the ball on his return to the side.
Bennison couldn’t convert from a challenging angle.
Wakefield would restore their lead before the break, with Walmsley crossing in the corner to make it 10-4.
Jowitt’s conversion effort was flung wide.
York did end that half on a high though, but found Wakefield in defensive form as the sought-after try back appeared out of reach.
Early in the second-half Wakefield had a chance as Cameron Scott raced 50 meters up the pitch before laying the ball across to Sinfield, whose kick towards McMeeken wasn’t controlled well.
They thought they had extended the lead when McMeeken drove through a gap in the York defence and offloaded to Smoothy, who appeared to score between the posts.
However, an intervention from the video referee saw the try ruled out for an obstruction by Jowitt.
The Knights used that let off to go ahead and tie the game up, with Va’a introduced and powering his way through.
Bennison converted to make it 10-10.
A penalty was then awarded to Wakefield for a foul on Rodwell, and Jowitt made no mistake to edge his side back in front.
But York rallied after Smoothy produced a high tackle on Hingano, allowing Bennison to again level proceedings with an added two points.
Unfortunately for Applegarth’s side, it would be their last two points of the contest as Wakefield pulled clear in the closing stages.
Myers profited from an impressive looping pass from McMeeken, easing his way through to score.
Jowitt couldn’t add the extras, but he was soon celebrating when pouncing on a loose pass from Bennison before grounding the ball.
He converted on this occasion.
Wakefield then put the icing on the cake as some impressive passing ended with Jowitt picking out Walmsley, who leapt through to score.
Jowitt’s added two points saw the game end 28-12.
WAKEFIELD TRINITY: Jowitt, Myers, Scott, Hall, Walmsley, Sinfield, Trueman, Pitts, Lipowicz, McMeeken, Rodwell, Smith, Hamlin-Uele
INTERCHANGES: Lino, Smoothy, Tevaga, Faatili
TRIES: Hall (9), Walmsley (26, 74), Myers (64), Jowitt (68)
GOALS: Jowitt 4/6
YORK KNIGHTS: Mata’afa, Jones-Bishop, Galeano, Wood, Bennison, Hunter, Harris, Martin, McShane, Vaughan, Dee, Field, Balmforth
INTERCHANGES: Doyle, Va’a, Thompson, Hingano
TRIES: Jones-Bishop (17), Va’a (50)
GOALS: Bennison 2/3
HALF TIME: 10-4
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