Castleford 52, York Knights 2

Losing away to Castleford is no disgrace by any means. In fact, the odds on the Tigers going through the season undefeated at The Jungle will be pretty short as they look to bounce straight back to Super League and lift the Northern Rail Cup on the way.

However, the heaviness and manner of the Knights' record 52-2 defeat yesterday, mainly the second-half collapse that shipped in 40 points without reply, will have disappointed, worried and upset the new Knights coach on his York debut.

It will have also tempered the fans' optimism somewhat following the promising pre-season performances.

Granted, Castleford were far better than the friendly teams York had come up against this year, and perhaps the best side the new club had ever faced at this level. They have remained full-time and, with crowds staying up around the 6,000 mark, will be able to afford the best at National League level.

However, the difference in class and strength, especially in that second half, was simply too big for Cook's liking, regardless of the two clubs' respective status.

Hopefully, that apparent division will prove deceptive and wholly erroneous as the season goes on. It will have to if the Knights are to have any glee in this Northern Rail Cup competition or indeed enjoy a successful National League Two campaign.

Castleford played against the driving wind in the first half yet still looked dangerous whenever they came forward.

They gave a sign of what was to come when Jon Hepworth, one of the few remaining Super League players from last year, strolled through down the right five minutes into the new season.

However, the Knights stuck at it in that first half, forced errors and halved the deficit with a 20-metre Paul Thorman penalty for a high tackle on Adam Sullivan.

York full-back Matt Blaymire came up with try-saving tackles on both Cas wingers as the Knights fought on and Chris Levy did likewise on full-back Michael Platt and, although Aaron Smith wriggled over on the next tackle, the hosts were restricted to just the two tries in a reasonably even first 40.

At the other end, three consecutive penalties deep in home territory gave York a great chance, John Smith being held up over the line, but things weren't clicking in attack against some good defending and maybe it would have been wiser to take a two-pointer to get back on the scoreboard.

That is exactly what Cas did 25 yards out with a penalty for a high tackle just before half-time to put them 12-2 up at the break.

The Knights' defence had been determined until then but it was breached right at the start of the second half as Blaymire was dragged in-goal to concede a drop-out and, from the attack, Andy Kain darted through the right.

And, for whatever reason, their enthusiasm was thence drained and the floodgates opened.

They did have the horrible, driving wind and rain in their faces but that couldn't account for all the missed tackles and gaps aplenty.

The Tigers, meanwhile, had their tails up, with Hepworth taking advantage of more space down the right to get his second try.

Good off-the-cuff rugby created a rare chance for Dan Potter, one of York's better players, as the Knights tried again but he was taken out off the ball as he went for his own grubber and the penalty came to nothing.

And Cas quickly broke all the way upfield for winger Michael Shenton to score another try down the right.

The next two touchdowns came down the left as Waine Pryce got on the end of an Aaron Smith kick to the corner and then Deon Bird scooted in, while the next was reasonably central, Craig Huby getting over down the inside right channel.

Kain grabbed his second after a grubber was spilled on the goal-line, and scrum-half Paul Handforth created the final try for Shenton in the right corner, Huby's mammoth conversion sealing a mammoth win.

Handshakes then turned to fisticuffs after the final hooter to end a miserable day on an even more sour note.

Match facts:

Northern Rail Cup

Sunday, September 13, 2005

at The Jungle

Castleford 52, York Knights 2

Castleford: Platt, Pryce, Reid, Hepworth, Shenton, Kain, Handforth, A Watene, Henderson, Huby, Haughey, Crouch, A Smith. Subs (all used): Bird, Cooke, B Smith, F Watene.

Tries: Hepworth 5, 47; A Smith 23; Kain 42, 70; Shenton 53, 76; Pryce 57; Bird 60; Huby 65. Conversions: Huby 23, 65, 70, 76; Handforth 60. Penalties: P Thorman 14. Drop goals: None

Sin-binned: None

Sent off: None

Knights: Blaymire 6, Fox 6, Potter 6, Ross 5, Buchanan 5, P Thorman 5, Levy 5, Sozi 5, Jackson 6, Sullivan 6, Kirke 6, Callaghan 6, Paterson 7. Subs (all used): Elston 5, Cain 5, J Smith 6, Buckenham 6.

Tries: None. Penalty: P Thorman 14.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None

Man of the match - Lee Paterson

The loose forward worked tirelessly in defence and provided one of the Knights' very few threats in attack on what was a terrible afternoon for Mick Cook's men.

HT: 12-2

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield). Rating: Seen worse.

Penalty count: 5-8

Gamebreaker: The first try after the break set the tone for a second-half rout.

Attendance: 5,768

Weather watch: cold, driving rain and wind.

Match rating: Downright horrible day for all Knights fans.

Updated: 10:38 Monday, February 14, 2005