York Knights 52-12 Batley Bulldogs: Match Report

York Knights clinched the Betfred Championship League Leaders’ Shield, with a 52-12 win over Batley Bulldogs at the LNER Community Stadium!

After a winning run of 19 games stretching back to April, including 16 consecutive league victories, the Knights claimed the trophy for the first time in front of the biggest home crowd of the season.

A first half hat-trick from Ben Jones-Bishop helped build a 24 point half time lead which was never threatened.

Four more tries in the second half completed a memorable and historic afternoon for the Knights.

The scoring opened after just three minutes, when Ben Jones-Bishop went in at the corner for what was his 250th career try to get York off to the best possible start.

Jones-Bishop was in again just three minutes later. This time Toa Mata’afa took York close before offloading to Harris who again offloaded to his right. Again, Harris converted.

Paul McShane was his usual busy self and almost got Ata Hingano through, only for the pass to hit a Batley hand and go to ground. The referee waved play on as Jack Martin hoovered it up to score.

The Knights were looking dangerous on every attack, and were scoring at more than a point a minute. With just 15 minutes gone, Jones-Bishop took another Harris pass and completed his hat-trick. No conversion was added.

With Batley struggling to get out of their own half, more than 25 minutes had gone before they got near the York line. Dane Manning exploited a gap in the Knights defence, and crossed from almost their first real attack, and Robbie Butterworth converted.

The Knights soon hit back, and it was the turn of Jesse Dee to capitalise on work from Harris, following up a grubber kick to touch down. Again, Harris couldn’t add the extra points.

Ukuma Ta’ai was next to score, going over on his 350th career appearance. Harris converted.

Just before the break, Lucas Wilshaw was held up for Batley as they looked to finish the half strongly. However, the Knights defence couldn’t be breached and York took a 26 point lead into the dressing rooms.

That lead soon stretched once play resumed as Ta’ai charged towards the line and offloaded to the supporting Mata’afa to keep the scoreboard ticking. Harris converted.

Ta’ai went close again moments later, only for the defence to get around him and force him back as the Knights still looked a threat on every set.

However, it was Batley who scored next, with Manning burying his way through from close range. Butterworth converted.

An error from the restart then set York up 10 metres out from the Batley line. A repeat set led to Hingano spotting a way through and he weaved his way over to take York past the 40 point mark.

It looked like Ben White had hit back for Batley when he pounced on a loose ball just beneath the sticks, only for him to be brought back for an offside penalty.

It was a relatively scrappy part of the game, but the try of the match was still to come. Hingano and Dee worked the ball between them before Hingano looked up and put the perfect kick through. Joe Brown was there to touch down.

Minutes later, Bailey Antrobus scored after Sam Cook broke clear from 20 metres out for what proved to be the final points of the game.

The final hooter triggered scenes of celebration both on the field and in the stands as the Knights claimed the League leaders shield.

Next stop, the play offs.

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

Subs (all used): Brown, Santi, Ta’ai, Cook

18th Player: Dagger

Tries: Jones-Bishop (3,6, 15), Martin (11), Dee (29), Ta’ai (33), Mata’afa (44), Hingano (60’), Brown (71), Antrobus (74)

Goals: Harris (6/10

Batley: Kear, Burton, Carr, Greensmith, Render, Butterworth, White, Gledhill, Moore, Cooper, Flynn, Manning, High

Subs (all used): Leak, Wilshaw, Brown, Lingard

18th Player: Bateman

Tries: Manning (26)

Goals: Butterworth (2/2)

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