York Knights fell to a 40-10 defeat away to second-placed Sheffield Eagles in the Betfred Championship at the Olympic Legacy Park.
Tries in the opening half-hour from Ben Jones-Bishop and Matty Dawson-Jones saw Sheffield gain a 10-0 lead before Chris Clarkson cut the gap for York.
But Kris Welham and Anthony Thackeray scores asserted a 22-6 advantage at half-time, with that margin widened by a second Welham score on the hour.
Conor Fitzsimmons managed a consolation score for the Knights before late efforts from Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e and Welham - at which stage York had lost both centres James Glover and Jesse Dee to injury - wrapped up the win for Sheffield.
The hosts made a rapid start as Jones-Bishop dived in at the right corner after QLT kept a play alive after the ball had gone to ground.
Cory Aston put the conversion wide, his only miss from seven attempts at goal.
Jones-Bishop turned provider on 25 minutes when he surged clear from a 20m restart, breaking to within 20 of the York line before handing off for Dawson-Jones to finish.
The Knights were back in the contest when Will Jubb’s long dummy-half pass found Josh Daley, who sent Clarkson through the line, with Joe Brown converting due to an earlier injury sustained by regular goal-kicker Glover.
Sheffield hit back with two quick-fire scores before the break - Welham finishing a right-edge move after QLT’s break before Thackeray grounded a close-range kick-and-chase.
York held Sheffield out for the opening 15 minutes of the second half before Thackeray’s short pass sent Welham twisting over the line.
Fitzsimmons responded with a quarter of an hour left, charging onto a Jubb drop-off pass.
But it was Sheffield who finished strongest. QLT supported Aston’s line-break on halfway, racing to the left corner before Welham completed his hat-trick but driving onto another short pass.
Sheffield: QLT, Jones-Bishop, Welham, Oakes, Dawson-Jones, Aston, Thackeray, Kirk, Halafihi, Dickinson, Liu, sene-Lefao, Hodgson
Subs (all used): Douglas, Wood, Broadbent, Hansen
Tries: Jones-Bishop (6’), Dawson-Jones (25’), Welham (32’, 57’, 79’), Thackeray (39’), QLT (73’)
Goals: Aston (6/7)
York: Brown, Butterworth, Dee, Glover, Towse, Cunningham, Daley, Kirby, Jubb, Michael, Clarkson, Field, Fitzsimmons
Subs (all used): Harrison, Teanby, Ta’ai, Barnard
Tries: Clarkson (31’), Fitzsimmons (65’)
Goals: Brown (1/2)
Referee: Michael Smaill
Geoff Pryce Player of the Match in partnership with Isaac Poad Brewing: Josh Daley
