York Knights 30-18 Halifax Panthers: Play Off semi-final Match Report

York Knights are through to the Betfred Championship play off final, after a 30-18 win against Halifax Panthers at the LNER Community Stadium!

In what was their 20th consecutive win of the season, the Knights came through a tight and tense match to clinch their place in their first ever Grand Final at this level.

After building a second half lead of 16 points, they had to withstand a comeback from Halifax that brought them back to within four points, and set up a grandstand finish.

However, when Toa Mata’afa crossed for his second of the game, the lead was restored and York went on to claim a hard fought win.

It was a nervy start though, when an error from the kick off gave Halifax a scrum 10 metres out from the York line. It took a huge hit from Scott Galeano to force Charlie Graham to drop the ball before the pressure was relieved.

There was more Halifax pressure as Ben Crooks broke up the middle, and it was only a last ditch tackle that prevented George Whitby from going in. That pressure was turned into York points when Louis Jouffret put a kick through and Toa Mata’afa collected it to feed Ben Jones-Bishop who raced 90 metres up field to score. Harris converted.

Jones-Bishop broke through again moments later, and as Connor Bailey raced to reach the winger’s chip through, he was tackled off the ball. Ben Crooks saw a yellow card, and with the extra space, Ata Hingano sent a looping pass to Scott Galeano to score in the corner. Harris missed the conversion

More York pressure followed when the Panthers couldn’t take a high ball from the last of a York set. Oli Field was held up from a scrum. However, as the ball was then moved wide, Alfie Johnson intercepted and raced upfield for Halifax’s first try of the game.

A penalty for a high tackle allowed Harris to add an extra two points, as the Knights elected to kick for goal in what was turning into a tight and at times edgy affair with mistakes from both teams.

With a knock on near the York line giving Halifax another set of six, followed by back to back penalties, the Panthers turned up the pressure again. The Knights had to dig deep, but their line remained unbreached, despite the visitors winning the battle for territory.

When York did get possession in the Halifax half, they scored again. Good hands from Paul McShane and Harris found Kieran Buchanan, whose footwork did the rest to go through the Halifax line. Harris couldn’t add the extras, but York led by 10 points at half time.

The second half started at the same level of intensity as the first.

With every error feeling like it could be crucial, it was Halifax who again got the better of the territory. However mistakes kept preventing them from getting any rhythm.

When a penalty was awarded to York on the Halifax 20 metre line, York had their first real attack of the half. Jordan Thompson was almost in, but he couldn’t take Sam Cook’s pass.

More pressure then came on the York line from Halifax with back to back sets, only for another handling error to break down their attack.

York attacks seemed few and far between, but when the next one came, it led to another try. Harris dummied his way through down the right, and Mata’afa was there in support to finish off the move. Harris’ goal opened up a 16 point lead with 20 minutes to go.

Halifax weren’t finished and when Ben Crooks chased up a grubber kick to touch down, Whitby converted and tensions rose again.

Fax reduced the deficit to just four when Brandon Douglas rattled the posts as he crashed over for another converted try, and the game was set for a grandstand finish with 12 minutes to go.

Momentum was now with the visitors. However, on another of those forays into the Halifax half, York scored again. Mata’afa powered through to score again in the corner and Harris added a towering touchline conversion.

They almost scored again when Bailey Antrobus was held short, and as Halifax were caught offside as they shot off the line at the play the ball, Harris stepped up and added the penalty. With two and a half minutes to go, and York were 12 points up.

More Fax pressure followed right on the York line, so the Knights had more defending to do before the final hooter went. However they were through to their first ever grand final appearance.

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

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

18th Player: Dagger

Tries: Jones-Bishop (7), Galeano (9), Buchanan (30), Mata’afa (60, 74),

Goals: Harris (4/7)

Halifax: Nofoaluma, Tibbs, Johnson, Crooks, Graham, Jouffret, Whitby, Douglas, O’Brien, Dixon, McCarron, Fairbank, Davies

Subs: Inman, Calcott, Graham, Cowen

18th Player: McComb

Tries: Johnson (14), Cooks (65), Douglas (68)

Goals: Whitby (3/3)

Sin Bin: Crooks (9)

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