York City Knights Under-16s host their Sheffield Eagles counterparts tonight (7pm) looking to continue a memorable start to their new scholarship season.

The young Knights won 34-32 at Super League club Bradford Bulls in a thrilling opener at Odsal.

Winger Jack Townend crossed with only two minutes gone and the Knights capitalised on the good start to lead 22-4 at half-time.

The Bulls fought back to go ahead in the dying minutes but the Knights struck back in a nail-biting finale as scrum-half Sean Marlar-key superbly scored in the corner and Tom Holmes added the match-winning extras from the touchline. This is the first year that professional clubs’ juniors can play games against one another as part of the Rugby Football League’s ‘Trailblazer’ scheme.

This new player development mechanism means the Knights will bring together players from across North Yorkshire aiming to take them through the ranks ultimately to the first team.

Former scholars Eddie Smith, Joe Dey and Jamie Stuart have gone on to sign first-team contracts this year and it is hoped more will follow.

This was the first time a Knights scholarship team had taken on Super League counterparts.

Adam Prentis, the scholarship’s player performance manager, said: “We got off to a really pleasing start. The Bulls came back strongly which put some pressure back on us. However, our players showed great determination to come away with a win.”

• Don’t miss The Press’ Park Life supplement on Saturday’s to keep up to date with how the young Knights are doing.