York Knights 24-16 Oldham RLFC: Match Report

York Knights stayed top of the Betfred Championship after a hard fought 24-16 win over Oldham at the LNER Community Stadium.

The Knights named a changed side, with both Liam Harris and Sam Cook ruled out through injury, and a new half back combination formed of Will Dagger and Toa Mata’afa.

But despite the new look spine, and a spell in the second half where Oldham looked to be taking control, they produced a strong performance to make it 12 wins in a row in the league and 14 in all competitions.

After Oldham went in front for the first time in the second half, two late York tries from Jesse Dee and Oli Field swung the game back in the Knights' favour for a memorable win.

The best of the early play went York's way but despite twice getting to within 10 metres of the Oldham line, they couldn’t break down what was already looking like stern defence.

The first try came after an Oldham forward pass gifted York the ball in their opposition’s 20. Ben Jones-Bishop joined the line and opened the scoring, dancing his way through a gap. Dagger couldn’t add the conversion.

Oldham were tackling well, and after pouncing on a loose ball 20 metres out, they also put pressure on the York line, testing the Knights defence. However, the Knights showed they could defend just as strongly and forced a handover.

Another error from Oldham allowed the Knights to move up field again and on the last of the set, Kieran Hudson took a pass from Jordan Thompson and crashed through the tacklers to get the ball down and extend the lead. Dagger converted.

The game was turning into an end to end affair, with errors being punished and defences not taking a backward step.

It was an obstruction call and then a penalty for a high tackle that gave Oldham an opportunity. On the last of the set, a Josh Drinkwater grubber kick rebounded off the legs of the York defenders, and Morgan Smith pounced on the loose ball behind the line to score.

With the wind picking up, Dixon couldn’t convert so York had a six point advantage at the break.

The second half started as the first finished, with Oldham scoring. George Hirst went through a big gap, created by good handling from the visitors. Dixon’s conversion levelled the scores.

As play went up the other end of the field again, Jones-Bishop went close and as he tried to pass out of the tackle, Oldham got a hand to it and ended up with an accidental offside. Dagger kicked the penalty from in front of the posts, and York were back in front.

That lead was short lived though, as minutes later Dixon found space down the wing to accelerate and score. He added the goal and Oldham were ahead for the first time.

Momentum was turning in favour of the Roughyeds, but play was still end to end in nature. As York threw their big men forward to try to gain metres, Oldham kept repelling the attacks.

Eventually, momentum swung back to York, After forcing a goal line drop out, Jesse Dee charged over on the back of a short pass to get York’s first try of the second half. With Paul McShane taking over kicking duties and adding the goal, the Knights had the lead again.

When Oli Field ran a great line minutes later, again for a try converted by McShane, York found themselves with an eight point cushion with four minutes to go, and it was enough to see the game out and continue their winning run.

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

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

18th Player: Reynolds

Tries: Jones-Bishop (12), Hudson (23), Dee (70), Field (76)

Goals: Dagger (2/3), McShane (2/2)

Oldham: Laulu-Togagae, Agoro, O’Keefe, Davies, Dixon, Smith, Drinkwater, Chappelhow, Wildie, Dudson, Hirst, Taylor, Milner

Subs: (all used) Pelissier, Baxter, Farnworth, Moran

18th Player: Forster

Tries: Smith (36), Hirst (46), Dixon (59)

Goals: Dixon (2/3)

#RiseUp | #WeAreYork | #RiseUp