YORK City Knights knew they had to stop Lusi Sione if they were to end Workington's 13-month unbeaten home run. But that is easier said than done.

The Kiwi full-back scored a hat-trick in a man of the match display as his side inflicted the second defeat of the Knights' LHF National League Two campaign.

They probably deserved the 44-28 result too. Their huge forwards won the battle up front, despite the efforts of York substitute Yusuf Sozi, and displayed an attacking flair which, with Tane Manihera's ball skills and Sione's ability to drift into the line, was entertaining as well as productive, even if it did benefit from its fair share of good fortune.

That said, they didn't really break the Knights down in a structured sense. The majority of tries came off-the-cuff from broken play, and 44 points against did not justly reflect York's defence.

The real problem for York was in attack where too many sets ended prematurely as balls were dropped sloppily and bad passes forced, meaning any pressure they should have built was quickly turned over and the big home pack could recharge its batteries.

Indeed, there were crucial times when Town appeared to be on the wane, only to regain possession cheaply, going on to score points every time it seemed they needed to.

The Knights will now be hoping there is no dj vu. They could afford to lose this game - they still top the table at the half-way mark of the season - but defeat at Derwent Park last year signalled a three-game losing streak that effectively ruined their title chances, and with a tough month ahead, they will need to put this result aside and get back to business immediately.

At least head coach Mick Cook is now back with them. He suffered a bout of mumps last week, which kept him away from the camp, but passed himself fit on the morning of the match so travelled to Cumbria to join up with the squad, who had gone up the day before.

The game started at a cracking pace with Paul Thorman putting the visitors?????????????????ahead with a penalty, but Town hit back in crazy style. They knocked on in attack but referee Jamie Leahy waved play-on as Knights full-back Jon Liddell caught the ball - only for Dexter Miller to steal it back and cross.

That try was followed by touchdowns for Sione and Scott Chilton and, with Manihera's goals making it 18-2, Town were on fire.

Cook and assistant Daryl Powell's reply was to swap props, with sub Sozi straight away putting in a huge hit, and thereafter making a big difference.

York were still having a lot of defending to do, with their only real respite coming from Town's penchant for giving away cheap penalties.

On the back of one such free-kick, Chris Levy, who had moved to hooker with Lee Jackson substituted and Rhodes on at half-back, darted over. York then got into it, and Neil Law broke down the left and put Matt Blaymire in.

They came close again from a Levy bomb but the vital try just before half-time came at the wrong end as the hosts benefited from several bobbles in centre-field for Sione to make it 24-10.

The first try of the second half came at the right end as Fox touched down Rhodes' chip. This could have proved important but, just as a comeback looked possible, it was stifled as a brilliant long pass from Manihera found space for Chilton to score again.

York created spaces as well, but far too often let Town off the hook. When they didn't, Rhodes broke through and, at 28-22 following Thorman's touchline conversion, it was game on again.

But a lucky bounce from a kick ended with Sione celebrating his hat-trick, a try sandwiched between two Manihera penalties and a conversion. There was still time for York but it wasn't to be, especially when more brilliance by Sione, breaking from his own line, set up a try for Lee Tinnion.

At the other end, Sozi blasted over for a touchdown he deserved.

Then Levy was denied as a superb breakout was halted for the most backward of forward passes, but the only relevance of that is on the points-difference board.

Match facts

LHF National League Two

Sunday, June 26, 2005

at Derwent Park

Knights: Liddell 6, Blaymire 6, Potter 7, Law 6, Fox 7, Levy 7, P Thorman 7, Smith 6, Jackson 6, Sullivan 6, Ramsden 7, Kirke 6, Paterson 7. Subs (all used): Rhodes 7, Callaghan 6, Bates 7, Sozi 8.

Tries: Levy 33; Blaymire 37; Fox 42; Rhodes 51; Sozi 74.

Conversions: P Thorman 6, 51, 74. Penalties: P Thorman 6. Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Workington Town: Sione, Woodcock, Chilton, Miller, Wilson, Kiddie, Manihera, Lavulavu, Limmer, Tuimaualuga, Vaughan, Purdham, Roper. Subs (all used): Tinnion, McGuinness, Beaumont, Wright.

Tries: Miller 8; Sione 12, 40, 57; Chilton 15, 46; Tinnion 72. Conversions: Manihera 8, 12, 15, 40, 57, 72 Penalties: Manihera 55, 60. Drop goals: None. Sin-binned: None. Sent off: None.

Man of the match

Yusuf Sozi - took on Workington's big men, worked hard and made a great impact with some titanic midfield hits.

Referee: Jamie Leahy (Dewsbury). Rating: Some bizarre decisions among some all right ones. The Knights were on the wrong end of some, but should have made more of a penalty count heavily in their favour.

Penalty count: 6-15.

HT: 24-12.

Gamebreaker: Each time the Knights threatened a second-half comeback, it ended as quickly as it begun, none more so than when Sione's hat-trick score just before the hour made it 36-22.

Attendance: 1,179.

Weather watch: sunny but not boiling hot.

Match rating: Everyone knew the importance of the game and this was reflected in an entertaining match, with the wrong result of course.

Updated: 11:31 Monday, June 27, 2005