Wakefield Trinity 28-12 York Knights: Match Report

York Knights put in a gritty performance at Wakefield Trinity, only to lose 28-12 at the DIY Kitchens Stadium in Betfred Super League.

After a tight first half, Mark Applegarth’s side trailed by just six points with their try coming from Ben Jones-Bishop on his first appearance since March.

Despite pulling the game level with 20 minutes remaining in the second half, Wakefield went on to score three tries in 10 minutes to make sure of taking the points.

Trinity took the lead after some early pressure. They forced a drop out from beneath’s York’s posts, and when Jack Sinfield put a kick through, Corey Hall was alive to it to touch down. Max Jowitt added the first of four goals.

York found themselves absorbing more pressure, but were next to get points on the board. It was another try from a kick as Cody Hunter launched a high ball to the corner, and Jones-Bishop won the challenge to collect it in the air and get it down.

Wakefield managed to find space on the edges throughout the game, and when they moved the ball wide to Lachlan Walmsley, the wingman made no mistake. The position on the field coming from a York ball being put out on the full from a kick on the last.

While being valiant in defence, York also were pushing at Wakefield’s line, with both Sam Wood and Xavier Va’a going close in quick succession without being able to get over the line.

Wakefield continued to build pressure as the half went on, with Jazz Tevanga looking dangerous after coming on from the bench. However York worked hard, and kept the deficit to just six points at half time.

There was more pressure for York to deal with after the restart. First, Mike McMeeken almost scored, but he knocked on with the line begging as he raced to collect a Sinfield kick.

Trinity thought they’d scored shortly after that, only for Tyson Smoothy’s touch down under posts to be ruled out after an obstruction on Scott Galeano by Jowitt in the build up.

When Va’a forced his way through a pile of defenders on the try line on the last of the set, York finally managed to edge closer to their opponents. Jon Bennison added the goal and the scores were level.

With an exchange of penalties, first one from Jowitt and then from Bennison, the game was still tied with 20 minutes remaining.

However, Wakefield hit a purple patch which took the game away from the Knights.

First a long pass to Jayden Myers found him in plenty of space to score in the corner, before Jowitt picked up a loose ball after Bennison threw a pass into no man’s land.

Wakefield were gathering momentum from here, but York still continued with the effort in defence, denying Ky Rodwell a try as he knocked on.

The Knights were still willing to throw the ball around and create something, but when Wakefield again gave the ball air and shipped it out wide for Walmsley to get a second try which Jowitt converted with six minutes left, the game went too far out of their reach.

Wakefield: Jowitt, Myers, Scott, Hall, Jowitt, Trueman, Sinfield, Hamlin-Uele, Smith, Rodwell, McMeeken, Lipowcz, Pitts

Subs: (all used) Lino, Smoothy, Tevaga, Fa'atili

18th Player: Williams

Tries: Hall (9), Walmsley (26,74), Myers (64), Jowitt (68)

Goals: Jowitt (4/6)

York: Mata'afa, Jones-Bishop, Galeano, Wood, Bennison, Hunter, Harris, Martin, McShane, Vaughan, Dee, Field, Balmforth

Subs: (all used) Doyle, Va'a, Thompson, Hingano

18th Player: Foster

Tries: Jones-Bishop (15), Va’a (50)

Goals: Bennison (2/3)

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