YORK City Knights completed their pre-season fixtures with a morale-boosting 30-6 victory over old arch-rivals Hunslet at Bootham Crescent.

Three tries in the last four minutes put some gloss on the scoreboard, though, with the test posed by the Parksiders greater than the result would suggest.

Indeed, arguably the most pleasing aspect for head coach James Ford, as opposed to the five touchdowns, could be his team’s goalline defence, which was breached only once despite the visitors having plenty of ball in the danger zone.

There were a few classy moments thrown in, too, from the likes of former Hull KR stars Jake Butler-Fleming, Graeme Horne and Ben Cockayne, the latter arguably the game star. But Ford was not too happy with the intensity and speed of the match in general, at least not until they practised chasing a game late on and racked up the points.

Ford had fielded a strong side.

New dad Ash Robson was allowed time off following the birth of his first child, Lena, but opted to play, and started at full-back, having his best outing so far this year. Hopefully fatherhood suits him.

This meant young Will Dagger, one of three inclusions on dual-reg from Hull KR, switched to the bench, alongside forwards Joe Cator and Brad Clavering. A fourth dual-reg player, Jordan Walne, was not included as planned, though, having played long minutes for Rovers on Friday night.

Elsewhere, loose-forward Tim Spears was left out due to a minor dead leg, while Player of the Year Joe Batchelor failed his head test along with Harry Carter. Andy Ellis, who had been expected to likewise sit this one out with concussion, did pass fit.

Jake Normington was the natural replacement in the back row for Batchelor and so started against his former club. His old team-mates weren't very friendly but he handled it well.

Hunslet boss Gary Thornton had said none of their recent recruits from York would play but half-back Harry Tyson-Wilson did get a run off the bench. Thornton had also said he would be fielding plenty of fringe players – but this was a decent line-up.

It included other ex-Knights Danny Grimshaw, at centre, prop Matty Nicholson and new back-rower Duane Straugheir – all fan favourites back at Huntington Stadium.

Straugheir was much bigger than in his days at York and a running battle with Normington was a feature of the first quarter.

This was Hunslet’s first friendly and York’s last of four and the visitors’ early energy perhaps caught York off-guard. The game was considerably more niggly than York’s previous outings, too.

The visitors also had the benefit of some early referee whistling.

Jimmy Watson, often a danger at full-back, joined the line well and fed winger Joel Gibson, who kicked goalwards, but the defence smothered the ball well.

Two harsh penalties against Normington brought more pressure, as did a 40-20 from George Flanagan, but York’s goalline defence has been a feature of their friendlies against Hull KR and Featherstone and it again stood up here.

Both times right-winger Tom Ashton was forced into erring in the corner.

Instead, York went ahead on 15 minutes following their first real incision.

A sharp break in centre-field led to a smart reverse pass from Horne and Cockayne, presumably knowing the move, was infield on his shoulder to finish well. Connor Robinson converted.

The next attack also won a dropout but this Hunslet side were not allowing York too much time to showcase their moves. York also forced it a couple of times, not least late in the half when Brad Delaney threw a needless offload after a half-break close to the line.

The Knights’ defence, though, again passed tests, the next after a piggyback from the referee.

Hunslet did breach the line once, but Jack Coventry’s close-range try was ruled out for a forward pass.

They also went close on half-time as Shaun Roberts kicked against a post but Robson did well to deal with it.

Tommy Saxton, having signed his new deal, got through some early work in off his wing after coming on for the second period.

The chances, though, came on the opposite flank.

Dagger, on at half-time for Delaney, sent out a lovely long pass and Butler-Fleming’s quick hands sent Cockayne away. He kicked inside but the defence covered.

Then Butler-Fleming shrugged off Tyson-Wilson and got out a great basketball pass to Cockayne, with the winger finishing expertly. However, the touch judge must have seen a foot in touch. If this was a competitive match, it would have been a controversial call.

York did double their lead on 53 minutes, as Sam Scott drove close and hooker Ellis prised open the goalline defence from dummy-half, Robinson goaling before being replaced by Liam Jackson.

A number of interchanges disrupted some of the second-half flow, before Hunslet finally got through, albeit on the back of another dubious penalty, the referee deeming the defence not square after a poor Parksiders fumble.

The platform set, Flanagan got over from dummy-half – and letting old team-mate Normington know about it. Normington was having another niggling battle. Cain Southernwood converted.

Hunslet sniffed an equaliser as they built more pressure, helped again by the referee. But again York’s defence proved too good.

The hosts then broke out and made the game more than safe with their late salvo.

Former Super League prop Horne showed class when going close. Former Heworth amateur Liam Jackson then showed his with a lovely sidestep, having the strength to reach the line too.

It was then new half-back partner Delaney’s turn, as a dummy and dart brought his first try.

His second, on the hooter, was the pick of the lot.

Butler-Fleming again shoved his man away then got a sublime pass out of the back door for Cockayne to run on. The winger, having seen Delaney in space inside, sent a perfect kick goalwards for the Pakistan international to sprint onto.

Dagger, having switched to full-back, converted all three.

Knights: Robson, Cockayne, Butler-Fleming, Hey, Mazive, C Robinson, Delaney, A Robinson, Jubb, Horne, Normington, Scott, Siddons. Subs (all used): Jackson, Ellis, Dixon, Porter, Dagger, Kelly, Saxton, Hawksworth, Clavering, Cator.

Tries: Cockayne 15; Ellis 53; Jackson 76; Delaney 79, 80.

Goals: C Robinson 15, 53; Dagger 76, 79, 80.

Hunslet: Watson, Gibson, Grimshaw, Cooke, Ashton, Sanderson, Southernwood, Reed, Flanagan, Nicholson, Williams, Straugheir, Mackay. Subs (all used): Barnett, Roberts, Mvududu, Tyson-Wilson, Roberts, Crowther, Coventry, Walton.

Try: Flanagan 69. Conversion: Southernwood 69.