York City Knights finally bag their opening league win but not without a big scare at home to Blackpool

Having thrown away a lead, they got back in front in the final quarter but saw Blackpool centre Dave Llewellyn crash over the whitewash in stoppage time to bring the visitors to within two points at 22-20.

However, from the same spot as he had successfully booted two conversions, a few metres in from the left touchline, Gareth Langley screwed his attempt wide and the final hooter sounded before the restart could be taken.

It should have been a less stressful win, with the Knights missing four of five conversions, as well as a few chances, but a greater scoreline may have masked a performance lacking in confidence, especially when compared to the Northern Rail Cup campaign.

It wasn’t disjointed but it wasn’t fluid either, and while there was none of the ill-discipline shown in last week’s loss at Dewsbury, there wasn’t the intensity either. There was one victim of last week’s controversies, as prop Chris Clough, punished in particular for his unnecessary yellow card, was dropped in favour of Danny Ekis – though reckless offloads meant Ekis did not take his chance as well as he might.

Sub hooker Tom Hodgson was also omitted in favour of Danny Grimshaw, who entered the fray after 35 minutes at loose-forward for David March. He made good ground with his first touch and continued to stake his claim for a regular spot.

Elsewhere, Danny Ratcliffe failed his fitness test so Dave Clayton started at full-back with Tom Haberecht switching to centre in a reshuffled back line, Richard Knight starting in the back row and Carl Barrow coming on to the bench.

Haberecht and Knight were heavily involved, along with the Marchs, to present Wayne McHugh with a golden opportunity to open the scoring but he bungled the grounding.

It was a gaffe not associated with a regular try-scoring winger – but he later made amends, while Haberecht made no such mistake on the same right flank when he burst on to a Paul March pass, cut through like a hot knife through butter and sprinted home from 30 metres.

A further try looked on when the prominent Adam Sullivan made a startling 50-metre break, but he didn’t release the ball when the chance arose and the defence regrouped.

Those missed opportunities looked costly when Blackpool sub Martin Keavney scored but his try – luckily for York – was ruled out for a forward pass.

The Knights were not clinical enough but at least their discipline was intact – their only penalty conceded in the opening half-hour being for a double movement by Paul March in trying to score after a solo run.

All of those York attacks came down the right channel – as did the next that brought the second try.

Paul March was again instrumental in making ground, and it all ended with McHugh finishing superbly –- a much harder chance than the one he missed.

However, when a third try looked afoot, Panthers winger Langley intercepted and went the full length, despite a valiant effort to catch him by Mark Applegarth, showing decent pace for a prop.

It was Adam Mitchell’s pass that was picked off, amid one of his least constructive displays for York, and the stand-off’s starting place was further threatened when sub Grimshaw, his rival for a half-back role, set up the third try bang on half-time.

The score, though, was all about left-winger John Oakes’ finishing skills, displaying great power against two defenders and somehow stretching to the line. Oakes must be the strongest winger in the league.

Blackpool were not out of it, though, and pulled it back to 12-10 as Mark McCully finished well in the same corner, when he looked held up. Langley did what Mitchell couldn’t and added the touchline conversion.

Dean Hatton nearly put Blackpool ahead but, unlike McCully, he was held up. However, the warning was not heeded.

Clayton had to be helped off after a crunching tackle on his own line, but his efforts were wasted as Jonny Leather scored in the corner on the next tackle, Haberecht left isolated on the wing after McHugh switched to full-back.

Langley goaled for a 16-12 lead and York needed to find inspiration – at which point Mitchell came good.

Paul Hughes changed the angle of attack and the stand-off darted under the posts and added his only conversion – showing he can deliver the goods when most required, though he was soon forced off after taking a hit.

McHugh had a try harshly disallowed for a forward pass after a brilliant move from a similar position, and he felt further hard done to when he was penalised for stealing the ball in a one-on-one tackle.

But he got his joy as David March got out a trademark offload which only his brother read, before giving the scoring pass.

Knight’s goal attempt was also wide – keeping Blackpool in the hunt until that nerve-shredding finale.

* Don’t forget to vote for your Knights player of the month for March by noon on Wednesday. All who vote get the chance to present the award at the next home game, so leave your full name and daytime contact number.

York 22, Blackpool 20

Knights:Clayton 7, Oakes 8, M Mitchell 6, Haberecht 7, McHugh 7, A Mitchell 6, P March 8, Ekis 5, Hughes 7, Sullivan 8, Kelly 6, Knight 7, D March 6.

Subs (all used): Grimshaw 7, Applegarth 7, Barrow 6, Woodcock 7.

Tries: Haberecht 15; McHugh 15, 73; Oakes 40; A Mitchell 64.

Conversions: Mitchell 64.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Blackpool: Leather, Langley, Llewellyn, McCully, Munro, Hatton, Svabic, K Ratcliffe, J Clough, Draper, Kay, Alker, Hodson.

Subs (all used): Keavney, Boland, Farrimond, T Woodcock.

Tries: Langley 37; McCully 43; Leather 60; Llewellyn.

Conversions: Langley 43, 60.

Penalties: None. Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None. Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Adam Sullivan – massive first stint in particular and York missed him up front when he wasn’t on the pitch.

Referee: Craig Halloran (Dewsbury). Rating: made a few mistakes but tried to let the game flow.

Penalty count: 9-7.

Weather: Sunny and crisp.

Half-time: 12-4.

Attendance: 900 (estimate)

Moment of the match: John Oakes’ try on the stroke of half-time was a great finish, though Blackpool’s missed conversion with the last kick of the game brought greater delight.

Match rating: Blackpool made a better game of it than many fans expected and while it was nowhere near the best Knights display, it brought animation and aggravation in equal measure.