York Knights fell to a 46-4 defeat away to unbeaten Betfred Championship leaders Featherstone Rovers at the Millennium Stadium.
York trailed 14-0 at the end of a competitive first half but struggled to gain a foothold in the second period, conceding 32 points and only able to reply through a James Glover try just shy of the hour mark.
Gareth Gale finished with a second-half hat-trick for Featherstone, while Mathieu Cozza, Elijah Taylor, Kyle Evans, Connor Jones and Joey Leilua also crossed the whitewash.
The Knights had made a bright start, earning four consecutive penalties deep in Featherstone territory inside the opening 10 minutes, but found themselves unable to convert their field position.
Featherstone underlined their clinical nature when opening the scoring just moments later. After Liam Harris’ 40/20 attempt went out on the full, Cozza drove under the posts.
Craig Hall added the extras, the first of seven goals from eight attempts.
Rovers doubled their lead 10 minutes later courtesy of Taylor who twisted his way over the whitewash.
York battled on and enjoyed another dangerous attacking spell just before the break, but struggled to find their ruthless edge.
Rovers added two more points before the interval through Hall’s 35-metre goal.
Featherstone ramped up the intensity in the second period, reeling off four unanswered tries.
Evans finished off Leilua's flick pass before Jones raced over from John Davies' break on halfway.
Gale then scored twice in quick succession, firstly sprinting clear from a Knights error on the left flank before dummying over after Riley Dean's cut-put pass.
York never threw in the towel and their efforts were ultimately rewarded when Glover dived on Harris' grubber kick following a Matty Marsh surge upfield.
Featherstone had the final say however. Gale completed his treble via an acrobatic finish in the left corner before Leilua powered over on the opposite edge.
Featherstone: Aekins, Evans, Leilua, Hall, Gale, Taylor, Dean, Kopczak, Wildie, Lockwood, Day, Bussey, Cozza
Subs (all used): Jones, Davies, Moors, Yei
Tries: Cozza (13'), Taylor (22'), Evans (44'), Jones (47'), Gale (50', 53', 71'), Leilua (76')
Goals: Hall (7/8)
York: Brown, Towse, Barley, Glover, Ward, Marsh, Harris, Antrobus, Jubb, Fitzsimmons, Dee, Kirmond, Thompson
Subs (all used): Daley, Teanby, Ta’ai, Michael
Tries: Glover (28')
Goals: Glover (0/1)
Referee: Liam Rush
Geoff Pryce Player of the Match in partnership with Isaac Poad Brewing: Bailey Antrobus
