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York Knights will be seeking to make amends for April’s defeat to Halifax Panthers when they lock horns with the West Yorkshire outfit on Sunday (3pm).
An understrength York suffered a 16-6 defeat to Halifax in this season’s reverse fixture at The Shay.
A pair of Lachlan Walmsley tries gave Halifax a 10-0 lead at the break before Jacob Fairbank extended that advantage shortly after half-time.
James Glover registered a late consolation in the final five minutes for the Knights, whose difficult injury situation meant that no recognised half-backs could be fielded, with back-rower Oli Field and hooker James Cunningham lining up in the halves.
Halifax have suffered just two league defeats from their seven league matches since that April outing.
Two tries and six goals from Joe Keyes inspired a 36-16 win at Newcastle Thunder before Walmsley managed a quartet of tries in a 60-0 rout of Whitehaven.
The Panthers suffered back-to-back Betfred Championship defeats to Batley Bulldogs (12-20) and Toulouse Olympique (28-22) but have since responded by going unbeaten in their following three contests.
Another Walmsley quadruple saw Swinton Lions put to the sword in a 46-8 thrashing at Heywood Road while a trip to Odsal ended in a 22-22 draw in the West Yorkshire derby.
Last time out, Fax came from 16-0 to beat Barrow Raiders 48-20 at The Shay, with the free-scoring yet another quartet of tries.
Halifax’s three-match streak without defeat has left themselves fifth in the Betfred Championship table, trailing Toulouse, Sheffield Eagles and Batley – who sit second, third and fourth respectively – by just three points and possessing a better points difference than the latter.
The aspirational Panthers will be seeking to cement a Play-Off finish for the third successive season in 2023 as well as maintain their historically strong finishes at this level.
In the last 10 seasons, Halifax have placed outside the top four on just two occasions – 2016 (sixth) and 2019 (eighth).
The West Yorkshire club reached the Play-Off Semi-Finals in 2021 but were denied a final four place last year as York secured a famous 26-24 victory at The Shay – the Knights’ first ever Betfred Championship Play-Off victory.
Having trailed 22-12 at the break, Liam Harris and Levi Edwards tries combined with three Glover goals – the latter from the halfway line – to wrap up a stunning turnaround.
The Knights will be hopeful of springing a similar upset this afternoon at the LNER Community Stadium.
York Knights return to the LNER Community Stadium on Sunday as they face Halifax Panthers in the Betfred Championship (3pm) as part of a double header which also sees York Valkyrie take on Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Women's Super League (12pm).
General admission Adult tickets are priced at £20, Concession tickets at £15 and Under-16s are FREE. General admission tickets can be purchased HERE.
To book your Hospitality tickets, please email info@yorkrlfc.com.
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