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York Knights kept their Betfred Championship Play-Off hopes alive in the Betfred Championship after a hard-earned 20-10 victory against top six rivals Bradford Bulls at Odsal Stadium.
The two sides were locked at 8-8 at half-time, with Myles Harrison's early opener cancelled out by Connor Wynne's effort, while Liam Harris and Jordan Lilley each converted twice for York and Bradford respectively.
Lilley nudged Bradford ahead at the break but AJ Towse and Conor Fitzsimmons secured the Knights an eighth win from their last nine league matches, which leaves them just two points behind the top six with two rounds remaining.
York took the lead after 11 minutes in West Yorkshire after Harrison latched onto a short ball before crashing his way under the sticks.
Harris added the extras from in front to take the Knights into a six-point lead.
It didn’t take long for the hosts to respond as former Knights loanee Connor Wynne went over from dummy-half, allowing Lilley to convert from in front to bring the scores level at 6-6.
Lilley and Harris exchanged penalty goals to leave the scores level at the break before the former nudged his side 10-8 in front with another two-pointer.
The Knights regained the lead with 18 minutes to go through AJ Towse’s superb touchdown after Taylor Pemberton’s low grubber. Harris was this time unable to add the conversion from out wide.
With less than five minutes left, York were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks after Bradford kicked into touch following a goal-line drop out. Harris added the two extra points to take the scoreboard to 14-8.
Things got even better for the Knights with the last set of the game. After winning the ball back from the restart, Fitzsimmons barged his way under the posts, once again giving Harris a simple conversion.
Bradford: Wynne, Tindall, Arundel, Gill, Foggin-Johnston, Holmes, Lilley, Lawrence, Flanagan Snr, Doro, Butler, Wallace, Baitieri
Interchanges (all used): Appo, Scurr, England, Jowitt
Tries: Wynne (26’)
Goals: Lilley (3/3)
York: Harrison, Pratt, Dee, Clarkson, Towse, Daley, Harris, Ta’ai, Jubb, Santi, Kirmond, Field, Thompson
Interchanges (all used): Fitzsimmons, Michael, Pauli, Pemberton
Tries: Harrison (11’), Towse (63’), Fitzsimmons (79’)
Goals: Harris (4/5)
