KNIGHTS CLAIM WIN AT HEYWOOD ROAD

24 June 2019

York City Knights continued their top of the table fight with a win over the Lions at Heywood Road.

York City Knights continue their top of the table fight despite a late fight back from the Lions with a 12-26 scoreboard.

Obstruction was word of the day with four tries cancelled out for the same offence but York City Knights good form continues to keep them in the chasing pack at the top end of the league and they came out on in good light with a hard fought victory against the Lions.

The Lions started well and Rob Fairclough almost opened the scoring inside the first few minutes, but some great defence kept him them out.

Craig Mullen and Jack Hansen then both had chances from kicks and the Knights defence had to hack the ball dead on both occasions but it was the visitors who took the lead when some good pressure on the line saw Cameron Scott force his way over on the left but Connor Robinson could not add the conversion on fourteen minutes and four minutes later it was Robinson himself who looked like he had scored a try only to be pulled for obstruction in the build-up.

The same then happened for the Lions on twenty-four minutes when Mullen went through to score and he took was pulled back by the officials.

Robinson then stretched the Knights lead when he landed a penalty goal for another obstruction and then with four minutes to go from the break Frankie Halton was penalised for holding down and Robinson made no mistake again from twenty metres out but it was the Lions that finished strongly but the impressive Samy Kibula could not hold the pass from Scott Moore to score under the posts.

The Lions almost scored the opener in the second half when Matty Ashton got over the line but lost the ball, however again there was an obstruction in the build-up and the Lions got the penalty but could make nothing of it.

Robinson then had yet another try cancelled out for another obstruction in the build-up. Then the Lions Mike Butt had another cancelled out by the officials.

Both sides then good attacks on each others lines but so great scrambling defence kept them both at bay before Andy Ellis was held up on fifty six minutes and then the forced a goal line drop out on the last play and from the drop out the Knights pressured the line again with Marcus Stock crashing over and Robinson converting again.

With seventeen minutes left a kick error saw Graeme Horner crash in from short range again converted and then six minutes later Liam Salter finished off a fine handling move to score on the right and again Robinson was again on target with the boot.

The Lions were still not lying down and a great bit of play between Jack Wells and Hansen sent Ashton away to score by the posts and Hansen converted and then with three minutes left the Lions moved up field with two penalties and Luke Waterworth played the ball ten metres from the line and saw the defence napping and he dived over to score the try and his fiftieth point for the Lions and again Hansen converted but it was too little too late.

FULL TIME: Swinton Lions 12-26 York City Knights

Ian Rigg reporting from Heywood Road.

MATCH FACTS

Lions: Ashton, Butt, Lloyd, Mullen, Lepori, Hansen, Fairclough, Bennion, Waterworth, Hatton, Halton, Wells, P.Jones.

Subs: Brickhill, Moore, Byrne, Kibula.

Tries: Ashton (71′), Waterworth (77′)

Goals: Hansen 2/2

Knights: Marsh, Bass, Salter, Scott, Whiteley, Harris, Robinson, Teanby, Jubb, Horne, Jordan-Roberts, Scott, Spears.

Subs: Ellis, Dixon, Stock, Baldwinson.

Tries: Scott (14′), Stock (58′), Horne (63′),Salter (69′)

Goals: Robinson 5/6

HT: 0-8 FT: 12-26

Referee: Michael Mannifield

Attendance: 976

Photo credits: Emily Parker

Special credit to the Rugby League All Stars and Wigan St Judes Masters, who played in a charity curtain raiser on Sunday at Heywood Road.