Knights 30, Halifax 34

What nobody said was that one of them, the LHF Healthplan NL1 Qualifying Final, would involve three teams, as Halifax ended up playing against two - both wearing the white of York City Knights.

One of those teams was excellent. It dominated the game in all areas and scored enough to seal promotion from NL2.

However, the other team took over for the final ten minutes - and ensured that Widnes remains the only ground at which York have never won.

This team had started the game, allowing Halifax to build a 16-6 lead and, after the Good Knights had turned things around with 24 unanswered points, it was these Bad Knights that returned to throw it away.

It all ended with Fax scoring three late tries to win 34-30 in what could only be described as an excruciating way to lose a Grand Final. Talk about Jekyll and Hyde.

Then, of course, there was video referee Steve Cross, whose controversial decision ten minutes from time changed the course of events - he effectively fed the notorious potion down Dr Jekyll's neck.

Fax centre Alan Hadcroft was seemingly held up over the line by Austin Buchanan, Craig Forsyth and Mark Cain.

Referee Bob Connolly went to Cross for confirmation and, after a few replays on the pitch-side big screen, all the players lined up for a play-the-ball - but the try was given. Hadcroft must have found the longest blade of grass on the pitch.

Still, the Knights remained two scores ahead with less than ten minutes left. But wait, that blasted potion was kicking in.

The otherwise excellent Chris Langley spilled the ball in the first tackle inside the Halifax half and from an excellent territorial position, the Knights found themselves back-tracking and, with the defence at sixes and sevens, James Bunyan crossed.

Halifax thus had the roll on and, with York wondering what had hit them, Fax full-back Scott Grix crossed to finish another ad hoc attack with the try to win it.

Now, Agar's men had come back from the brink before, most memorably at Featherstone in the Cup, but it was not to be this time, as Buchanan - who had the ultimate split personality yesterday - lost the ball in the first tackle in their final set.

It had begun just as bad for York and NL2 Young Player of the Year Buchanan in particular.

He allowed a bomb to bounce for Hadcroft, a two-try scorer in the semi-final, to get his first of two tries yesterday, Jamie Bloem booting his first of five conversions.

Danny Brough missed a kickable penalty chance to reduce the deficit before Bunyan upped the lead with the first of his brace.

Brough's restart then went out on the full and, although Bloem missed the penalty, it seemed all things were going wrong for York - until the two dummy-halves, Jim Elston and Lee Jackson, gave them a foothold.

Elston did the runaround and Jackson's quick hands gave the loose-forward the half-chance he needed, Brough adding his first of four conversions.

Elston had passed a late fitness test but fellow injury doubt Chris Smith didn't. The former Super League winner's problematic groin was okay, but he injured his back in the last training session.

Scott Walker came in at short notice and, although he was solid enough, Smith's experience was missed, especially for Fax's next try as Walker and Buchanan left Ben Black's chip to each other only for Rikki Sheriffe to speed in and score.

Buchanan soon made amends as he leapt highest to take Brough's chip and touch down and, with Mr Hyde banished to the changing rooms, Dr Jekyll began to take charge.

York forced four consecutive sets before Langley got a great ball out of the back door for Buchanan to grab his second to equalise before the break.

The noisy Knights army were thus the happier fans on the first-half hooter and they were cheering ever louder as their team built a healthy lead.

Elimination semi-final hero Cain bought a penalty off the foolish Ged Corcoran and Brough booted York in front for the first time, before Cain blasted on to Elston's superb flat pass close to the line to cross.

Bloem threw a punch in frustration and it immediately got worse for his side as Sheriffe, in trying to prevent a 40-20, gifted York another try as Buchanan collected his foolish knock-back and put Langley over.

Richard Wilson made a try-saving tackle on Ben Feehan with 13 minutes left and, with that chance gone, Halifax hopes seemed to go with it.

But, no. That mystical voodoo potion kicked in to see the best team lose.

Still, even in defeat the fans remained "York and proud of it" - and, promotion or no promotion, that can't be bad.

Match facts:

LHF Healthcare

National League One Qualification Final

Sunday, October 10, 2004

at Halton Stadium, Widnes

Knights: Walker 6, Buchanan 6, Langley 7, Spurr 7, C Farrell 7, Rhodes 7, Brough 8, Wilson 7, Jackson 7, Sozi 8, J Smith 7, Friend 8, Elston 8. Subs (all used): Cain 7, Talipeau 6, Sullivan 7, Forsyth 7.

Tries: Elston 16, Buchanan 33, 38; Cain 60; Langley 62.

Cons: Brough 16, 33, 60, 62.

Penalties: Brough 52.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Halifax: Scott Grix, Sheriffe, Bunyan, Hadcroft, Haley, Simon Grix, Black, Simpson, Moxon, Birchall, Bloem, G Corcoran, Weisner. Subs (all used): Feehan, A Farrell, Bates, Greenwood.

Tries: Hadcroft 3, 70; Bunyan 11, 74; Sheriffe 26; Scott Grix 76.

Cons: Bloem 3, 11, 70, 74, 76

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Danny Brough - excelled while the Knights were on top.

HT: 16-16

Referee: Robert Connolly (Wigan).

Rating: All right. Better for York than the video ref, anyway.

Penalty count: 6-6

Gamebreaker: The controversial try with ten minutes left gave Halifax a huge lifeline, but the quick turnover by York that followed and the next Fax try possibly had a bigger impact on the teams' respective psyches.

Attendance: 10,500 (capacity, aggregate for triple-header).

Weather: Chilly, breezy.

Match rating: Brilliant for the neutral. Brilliant for the most part for York fans too - but with an absolutely sickening finale.

Updated: 09:41 Monday, October 11, 2004