York Knights 16-14 Bradford Bulls: Match Report

York Knights moved to the top of the Betfred Championship with a hard fought 16-14 win over Bradford Bulls at the LNER Community Stadium.

With intensity levels high throughout, a penalty from Liam Harris proved to be the difference after a late try from Bradford set up a tense finish.

The Bulls took the lead with an early penalty from Jordan Lilley, but once York went ahead with a try from Ben Jones-Bishop, they were always in front.

It was the Knights’ eleventh consecutive win in all competitions, and their third win this season over the Bulls.

It was an early error from the Knights, followed by a penalty in front of the posts, which allowed Jordan Lilley to get the first score of the game for the Bulls, kicking the two points from close range.

It was then a Bradford handling error that led to York’s first chance. After a scrum 15 metres out, the set ended with Connor Bailey being held up over the line.

The game was quickly turning into a typically intense affair, with both teams producing some fierce defence in the face of solid attacking play.

The first try came after a cross field kick from Liam Harris which led to a drop out from behind the Bradford posts. Ata Hingano launched a towering kick which wasn’t dealt with by Bradford in the in-goal area and it allowed Ben Jones-Bishop to collect for the easiest of tries.

The lead was extended when Harris showed some individual skill to wrong foot the defence and get the ball down for a converted try.

Play kept going from end to end, and after York were penalised for a ball steal, Bradford worked the ball up field and found Jayden Okunbor in space to cross in the corner. Lilley converted to reduce the deficit to two points.

Momentum swung the way of the Bulls and with another penalty in front of the posts, Lilley missed the chance to level the scores, sending the kick just wide.

With the pressure absorbed, York thought they’d scored again just before the break as Hingano scampered over, only for play to be brought back for a forward pass.

Bradford still had the momentum at the start of the second half, forcing the Knights to defend back to back sets in their own 10 metre area. Eventually on the third set of six, a knock on from Ebon Scurr eased the pressure.

With possession back, it was York’s turn to move up field. Harris drew players towards him in the middle of the pitch before fast hands left created space for Oli Field, who sold a dummy to open up the line and score. Harris’s conversion hit the upright but went over the crossbar.

As the clock ticked down, the intensity levels remained the same despite the heat and tough tackling as waves of attack were repelled at both ends of the pitch.

York got possession in the Bradford 20 metre area when Oli Field stole the ball from Jayden Okunbor. With a penalty awarded to the Knights for a ball steal in the next set, Liam Harris added a further two points to put the Knights eight points ahead with just over eight minutes remaining.

With four and a half minutes left, Bradford forced another drop out, and in the resulting set, Sam Hallas forced his way over from acting half for a converted try to set up a grandstand finish.

However, with no more points being scored, York’s winning run continued to take them to the top of the league and trigger scenes of celebration in the stands.

York: Mata’afa, Jones-Bishop, Buchanan, Field, Galeano, Hingano, Harris, Martin, McShane, Fitzsimmons, Dee, Bailey, Thompson

Subs (all used): Santi, Cook, Hudson, Clark

18th Player: Brown

Tries: Jones-Bishop (19), Harris (25), Field (48)

Goals: Harris (2/ 4)

Bradford: Hooley, Okunbor, Blake, Gill, Carr, Keyes, Lilley, Lawrence, Hallas, Bayliss-Brow, Fulton, Gee, Doro

Subs (all used): Scurr, Ott, Michael, Rodgers

18th Player: Meadows

Tries: Okunbor (32), Hallas (77)

Goals: Lilley (3/4)