IT was scrappy and messy but ultimately triumphant as York City Knights progressed to the last 16 of the Challenge Cup.

In fact, it was the Knights' worst performance of the season, but to not play well and win 32-24 at Sheffield - supposedly their biggest National League Two title contenders - must mean things aren't too bad.

The Eagles only had 17 fit men, so it would be unwise to read too much into the result ahead of the league campaign, but, concentrating on the positives, Richard Agar's men showed that when things aren't clicking they can grind out a result.

That's what they had to do in what was a niggly game in which referee Gareth Hewer had a hard time to stay authoritative.

The home fans were unhappy with the three yellow cards he showed to the Eagles at crucial stages in the second half but in truth he had little choice - he had issued warnings about slowing play-the-balls yet the hosts continued to transgress, and home player-coach Mark Aston, perhaps using a bit of old know-how to drag the Knights off form, was not averse to niggling it up a bit himself.

Ironically, he was their first to see yellow after throwing a missed punch at Darren Callaghan on nine minutes, with his former team-mate missing one back and ending up in the bin too.

However, the next card, shown to second-row Andy Raleigh just before the hour, had a bigger impact.

Sheffield had fought back from 22-6 down to within two points and had gleaned the upper hand. But with York merely trying to complete a six, Raleigh held on unnecessarily on half-way and was carded.

York immediately took advantage to score through Craig Forsyth, and two more yellows for professional fouls meant the Eagles twice went down to 11 men thereafter, helping York to close the game out.

It had not looked like being such a tussle once the Knights, starting as they left off against Dewsbury last week, scored early on, as has been their wont this year.

Simon Friend broke two tackles to get a fine ball out to Langley, who saw Chris Smith dart over after one minute 28 seconds.

Smith injured a knee in the process and with Langley and Damian Ball having passed fitness tests - keeping wingers Mark Stewart and Scott Walker out of the 17 - it all meant utility star Mark Cain added another string to bow by playing on the wing.

Still, York were disrupted and Sheffield hit back as they caught the short restart, with Nick Turnbull crossing and Richard Goddard goaling.

Aston and Callaghan were then sin-binned and while 12-a-side, both teams went close as Ball was forced into touch while Scott Rhodes somehow made sure Danny Mills did likewise at the other end. York had another let-off, Craig Brown dropping the ball over the line, before they retook the lead.

Callaghan returned and with a fierce tackle forced Carl De Chenu to drop the ball five yards out, with Scott Rhodes arcing in around a slack tackle following the scrum. Three minutes later, Brough's switch pass saw Briggs power in and reach a long arm to the line.

Brough goaled both but the game was by no means one way and there was to be no avalanche of points this time.

In fact, Damian Ball's brilliant individual try - he beat a man on half-way and rounded the full-back with no little pace - perhaps gave the 22-6 scoreline a flattering look.

Sheffield struck back before half-time as Aston's chip was hacked on by Poynter, who got the touchdown for Goddard to convert.

York then began the second half poorly with ball in hand - or rather out of hand as John Smith and Jim Elston dropped basic passes - and great defence lasted only so long before Danny Mills scored from an overlap.

Furthermore, a late tackle on the scorer was placed on report and meant Goddard could kick the conversion and double-up with the penalty from in front. Albeit a rare occurrence, it brought Sheffield within two points, and they continued to stay on top - until Raleigh got himself sin-binned.

This, coupled with the reintroduction at hooker of Lee Jackson, gave York the upper hand, with Forsyth proving the point as he charged like an escaped bull to score from 12 yards out.

Four minutes later, Alex Godfrey made a typical break only to stumble just short - and this time Goddard intervened at the play-the-ball to earn a yellow card, with Brough adding the penalty.

Raleigh had not long returned before Jack Howieson replaced him in the bin, having held down Friend after the Aussie had raced 60 yards from an interception.

The attack was nonetheless successful as brilliance by Jackson helped Langley crash over, meaning Rhodes' last-minute sin-binning for holding down and Greg Hurst's stoppage time try was not enough to appease the home support.

Eagles: Poynter, Mills, Turnbull, Breakingbury, De Chenu, Goddard, Aston, Howieson, Carroll, Bruce, Raleigh, Brown, James. Subs (all used): Hurst, Tillyer, Stanley, North.

Tries: Turnbull 4; Poynter 38; Mills 46; Hurst 80.

Conversions: Goddard 4, 38, 46.

Penalties: Goddard 47.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Aston 9; Raleigh 58; Goddard 63; Howieson 70.

Sent off: None.

Knights: Graham 6, C Smith 6, Langley 6, Callag-han 7, Godfrey 7, Rhodes 7, Brough 7, Briggs 7, Jackson 8, Sozi 6, Ramsden 7, Friend 8, Ball 8. Subs (all used): Elston 6, Cain 7, J Smith 6, Forsyth 8.

Tries: C Smith 2; Rhodes 20; Briggs 23; Ball 35; Forsyth 59; Langley 72.

Conversions: Brough 20, 23, 35.

Penalties: Brough 63.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Callaghan 9; Rhodes 80.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match:

Lee Jackson - steadied the ship when he returned off the bench in the second half.

HT: 12-22

Ref: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven).

Rating: Lacked authority in a difficult match but had little choice with cards.

Penalty Count: 14-11

Game-breaker: 58th-minute sin-binning of Raleigh took pressure off York and led to Forsyth's try to increase the lead.

Attendance: 723

Weather watch: dry and cold.

Match rating: Scrappy yet eventful. Hard to keep up with everything that went on.

Updated: 11:07 Monday, March 01, 2004