Knights 32, Eagles 16

The scrum-half was not fully on fire but a trademark try, a couple of 40-20 kicks and some dangerous play behind the pack suggested he will have a lot to offer in the Knights' first foray in National League One.

He was beaten to the Evening Press man of the match award by loose-forward Jason Golden, who drove forward and defended with a fervour not seen since, well, last season when Lee Paterson was pushing the team on from the same position.

Golden is keeping club captain Paterson out of the line-up and, if the former Leeds Academy ace continues to develop at this rate, the latter will do well to get his number 13 shirt back.

It was Hasty, though, who showed most of the flair on offer as the Knights got revenge over Sheffield with a 32-16 win that leaves the two sides neck and neck in the race to qualify from group six of the Northern Rail Cup.

York lost 29-24 in South Yorkshire two weeks ago and, while Sheffield coach Gary Wilkinson claimed yesterday's performance was "probably the Eagles' worst of the season", not helped by the loss of dangerous full-back Jonny Woodcock after half an hour, the Knights' improved showing had something to do with it.

It was still far from the finished article but not a bad effort given the circumstances.

Full-back Matt Blaymire and winger Lee Lingard were crocked late last week, while team captain Dan Potter, in his first game of the season after a hamstring strain, left the fray with a hand injury.

Youngster Tom Dunmore, however, can be pleased with his debut in place of Blaymire, and, with no recognised backs on the bench, the Knights did well to cover for centre Potter without obvious detriment.

If Dunmore's first touch, an excellent break forward, did not give him confidence, his second will have. His kick return began an attack which ended with Hasty's perfect chip seeing Paul Clarke score his first try for the club.

Dunmore was again to the fore with a fine tackle on flying Sheffield winger Rob Worrincy, who lost the ball when stretching for the line.

The Knights haven't been lucky with cards at home so far this term and that continued as Paul Thorman was sin-binned for alleged interference at a kick-chase in midfield.

Sheffield took advantage as Jon Presley's miss-pass put Dean Andrews - a former target of York's - to the line. Then after Hasty's restart went out on the full, Sheffield went ahead as Craig Poucher crashed over.

Hasty's next restart, however, was spilled by Liam Brentley and this led to John Smith swiveling over from Jon Liddell's firm pass.

Hasty converted and then booted a 40-20, and while that came to nothing, the Knights did score again as winger Clarke intercepted a Gavin Brown pass on half-way and showed his pace to the line.

Hasty converted, then booted another 40-20 and then scored a try. A planned move from the scrum looked to have broken down but he spotted a gap and ghosted through it.

The scrum-half converted to make it 22-8 at the break, a lead the Knights deserved having lifted the atmosphere by themselves.

Ironically, given the above praise, Hasty and Golden combined to put Sheffield on the front foot after the break.

They were penalised for crossing and the Eagles' pressure ended with prop Martin Ostler scoring, though Poucher's awful conversion attempt summed up their goal-kicking.

The Knights, constantly making half-breaks, with Rob Spicer and Golden to the fore, messily wasted good attacking positions a few times after the break, but they still scored twice.

Worrincy lost a Hasty kick and, from that attack, Jim Elston scored a trademark try from dummy-half, while Aussie Dave Buckley did brilliantly to catch a ricocheted grubber and spin over the line.

It was job done, especially when Eagles substitute Alex Clemie was sin-binned for the last ten minutes for a professional holding down foul - though sloppiness meant York barely had the ball thereafter with the visitors crossing again through Ostler.

Knights: Dunmore 7, Clarke 7, Potter 5, Spicer 8, Farrell 6, Thorman 7, Hasty 8, Ward 7, Liddell 7, Sullivan 7, Smith 7, Blanchard 7, Golden 8. Subs (all used): Elston 7, Buckley 7, Bovill 7, O'Loughlin 6.

Tries: Clarke 6, 32; Smith 24; Hasty 34; Elston 54; Buckley 60.

Cons: Hasty 24, 32, 34, 54.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Thorman 18. Sent off: None Eagles: Woodcock, Hurst, Andrews, Poucher, Worrincy, G Brown, Presley, Buckenham, Brentley, Ostler, Dickinson, Smith, Hay. Subs (all used): Clemie, C Brown, Lindsay, Fletcher.

Tries: Andrews 20; Poucher 22; Ostler 46, 72.

Cons: None.

Penalties: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None Man of the match - Jason Golden A second successive award for the loose-forward who worked his socks off once again.

HT: 22-8 Referee: Craig Halloran (Batley).

Rating: All right Penalty count: 10-10 Moment of the match: When Paul Thorman's attacking grubber kick on the hour-mark ricocheted up off a defender, Dave Buckley, running at full pelt, shot his arms up over his head to somehow catch the ball and take it to the whitewash.

Gamebreaker: Dave Buckley's remarkable try with 20 minutes left put the game beyond a Sheffield side already hampered by an inability to kick goals.

Attendance: 1,359 Weather watch: Low, late winter sun brightened a cold, dry day.

Match rating: A flat atmosphere did not do the game justice, even if it wasn't the most fluent of encounters.