York Knights 34-32 St.Helens: Match Report

York Knights took a valuable two points in Betfred Super League, with a hard earned 34-32 win over St.Helens at the LNER Community Stadium.

With both teams scoring six tries each, it was a missed conversion with two minutes left on the clock that ultimately proved the difference.

The game was level at 16 points each after the first half, but two tries in two minutes in the second half, while York had Ata Hingano in the sin bin, allowed the Knights to build a lead that Saints ultimately couldn’t overcome.

However a late comeback from St.Helens set up a grandstand finish, in which the Knights worked hard for their first win over the former champions since 1946.

It wasn’t the best of starts of York, when after just three minutes Jake Davies opened the scoring, winning the race to touch down a Jack Welsby kick through for a try converted by Jackson Hastings.

Despite conceding those early points, York were competing well and, Jon Bennison went close for what would have been an almost identical try. However, Saints cleared the ball before he could reach it.

He made no mistake with his next chance, taking a pass from Toa Mata’afa to go in at the corner to score against his former club. He wasn’t able to convert from the touchline.

The Knights then went ahead, after Oli Field took a great ball from Cody Hunter to find himself in space and scamper over from 10 metres out for a converted try.

While the sides were going set for set, the likes of Jack Welsby, Harry Robertson and Jackson Hastings were starting to have a bigger influence for Saints.

That turned into points through Shane Wright, when a high kick fell kindly near the line, and Hastings’ conversion put them ahead.

A knock on in front of the York posts allowed Saints to build more pressure and it looked like they’d scored again, only to be pulled back for a forward pass.

St.Helens had the momentum, and when a lovely pass from Welsby released Robertson, he also popped up in support to finish the move. Despite the defence catching him, he couldn’t be held and regained his feet to score.

That spell of pressure eventually ended and York were quick to hit back. Jordan Thompson got them close, and Denive Balmforth picked up from acting half to score beneath the posts for what’s becoming a trademark try. It meant they went into the dressing rooms all square at the break.

York had plenty of pressure to absorb at the start of the second half, and that wasn’t helped when Ata Hingano was sinbinned for a high tackle.

However, while down to 12 men, the Knights scored. Paul Vaughan showed great strength to power through the try line defence for a converted try and York were back in front.

Three minutes later they were in again. Nikau Williams took advantage of a high kick that wasn’t dealt with properly, and with the conversion, the Knights were 12 points ahead and the game had turned.

Now back up to thirteen players, York had more pressure to deal with as Saints had repeated sets on the Knights' line. Xavier Va’a put in some huge hits, and eventually forced a knock on to break another spell of St.Helens’ dominance.

Saints were the ones to score next though. What looked a loose pass near their own in goal area was picked up by Robertson who broke clear. Welsby was again in support to score.

With the conversion good, there were just six points between the teams with 11 minutes on the clock.

When Oli Field ran through from a Jack Martin pass to get his second of the game, again converted by Bennison, the Knights regained breathing space, albeit not for long.

A Saints kick was allowed to bounce high near the posts and Robertson reacted quickest to reduce the deficit with four minutes left. From there, they scored again.

With two minutes now remaining, a penalty just 10 metres from the York line, put more pressure on. The ball was moved wide and Jacob Douglas scored at the corner. Crucially, Tristan Sailor missed the conversion and the Knights held a narrow two point lead.

The Knights got play up the other end of the field, and with seconds remaining, Saints launched a kick from deep in their own half. When Bennison plucked it out of the air to get possession , the points were secured in a memorable win.

York: Mata’afa, Djeukessi, Galeano, Williams, Bennison, Hunter, McShane, Martin, Inman, Va’a, Foster, Field, Hingano

Subs: (used) Balmforth, Vaughan, Thompson, (not used) Buchanan

18th Player: Harris

Tries: Bennison (11), Field (16, 71), Balmforth (35), Vaughan (53), Williams (56)

Goals: Bennison (5/6)

Sin Bin: Hingano (46)

St.Helens: Walmsley, Murphy, Davies, Sailor, Douglas, Robertson, Hastings, Suluka-Fifita, Burns, Walmsley, Wright, Host, Shorrocks

Subs: Sinclair, Humphries, Keeley, Matagi

18th Player: Campbell

Tries: Davies (3), Wright (22), Welsby (32, 66), Robertson (76), Douglas (78)

Goals: Hastings (4/5), Sailor (0/1)

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