Knights 44, Lions 24

Yesterday's 44-24 defeat of Swinton lifted York City Knights to second in National League Two following Hunslet's defeat to Chorley, and the points-difference to leaders Barrow is reducing too as the Raiders failed to register a big tally against lowly London Skolars.

And with their next three games against Dewsbury, Skolars and Workington, who are all in the bottom four, the Knights could soon be eyeing top spot.

York's win yesterday, barring a 15-minute spell before half-time, was pretty comprehensive.

They ran in seven tries, with Danny Brough adding eight goals, to make them the leading points-scorers in the division and send another big crowd home happy.

It also amounted to some nice revenge, York's 38-16 loss at Swinton last August remaining the club's record league defeat.

The Knights were not going to allow for a repeat yesterday, although the opening six minutes raised some anxiety as, firstly, Darren Callaghan bombed a chance on the line after great work by himself and Chris Langley and, secondly, Swinton went ahead as Warren Ayres' fine long pass sent Chris Maye away to give the scoring pass to Phil Cushion.

However, a blistering four-try salvo in 13 unlucky-for-Swinton minutes put the Knights on the highway to happiness, and it was young-guns Scott Rhodes and Danny Brough who did the navigating.

Nathan Graham was held up inches short and stand-off Rhodes - who had told the Evening Press only 24 hours earlier that his half-back partnership with Brough was "ever-improving" - took advantage of sloppy defence at the play-the-ball to dig over.

Two minutes later, Brough sent in Damian Ball with a well-timed pass and was on hand 35 yards upfield to take the return and cross.

A similar try followed as Rhodes slipped in Callaghan down the same inside right channel and the 27-year-old - back in the second-row, with Aaron Wood coming into the centres - had Langley in support.

Substitute prop Craig Forysth then had an immediate impact, tidying up a loose pass and getting out a great off-load to Lee Jackson, who showed impressive pace for a man who turned 35 last week, to round nippy full-back Wayne English and make the line from 30 yards.

The corresponding fixture last term saw York score 36 points in 20 minutes and a similar return looked possible, but Swinton stopped the rot.

The Lions might be struggling against the division's top teams - they lost to Hunslet and Barrow before yesterday - but they have scored only one point less than York this term, and when their attack was allowed to bristle they broke through.

An ambitious Rhodes pass was picked off by Hugh Thorpe close to his own line and, although he was hauled down 50 yards upfield by Brough, the defence was stretched and fellow winger Chris Irwin was put in by English.

The Swinton full-back then turned scorer, benefiting from a huge touchline penalty and good work by Kris Smith, with Ayres' third conversion making it 24-18.

Brough had fluffed a penalty before that try but booted a quick double soon after half-time, before Jackson proved his passing prowess by setting up the Knights' last three tries which were as well-crafted as they were deserved.

The first was controversial according to Lions boss Paul Kidd, who claimed referee Gareth Hewer's decision to rule a knock-on was "a turning point".

Okay, it halted Swinton as they headed towards a breakaway try, while York scored from their resultant attack, but to say it was a turning point was a bit of aggrandizement as the Knights had gleaned command. And, anyway, Hewer may well have been correct.

As it was, Wood - he and fellow centre Langley both impressed - put York in a good position and Jackson's flat pass found Nathan Graham on the burst.

Kidd must have been appeased slightly when York substitute Mark Cain had what seemed an excellently-worked try ruled out for not grounding the ball, but it wasn't long before the Knights did score again.

Jackson embarked on a wonderful straight run from dummy-half - showing his quick-footed "apprentice", Jimmy Elston, that he can do that too - and gave Callaghan an easy run-in.

Wood was announced as the sponsor's man of the match and immediately showed why as he intercepted to race 60 yards, but his inside pass to Scott Walker was put down with the line in sight, and thence followed a consolation for Swinton, hooker Pete Cannon getting over from dummy-half.

However, York had the last word as Jackson set up Ball, with Brough adding his sixth conversion on the hooter.

Match facts:

LHF Healthplan National League

Division Two

Sunday, May 30, 2004

at Huntington Stadium

Knights 44, Lions 24

Knights: Graham 7, Buchanan 8, Langley 8, Wood 8, Walker 6, Rhodes 7, Brough 8, Wilson 6, Jackson 8, Sozi 7, Callaghan 8, Friend 8, Ball 7. Subs (all used): Elston 6, Cain 6, J Smith 6, Forsyth 7.

Tries: Rhodes 12; Brough 14; Langley 18; Jackson 25; Graham 57; Callag-han 70; Ball 80.

Conversions: Brough 12, 14, 18, 25, 57, 80.

Penalties: Brough 42, 45.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Lions: English, Thorpe, Llewellyn, Maye, Irwin, Coates, Ayres, Loughlin, Cannon, Liku, Cushion, Sinfield, K Smith. Subs (all used): Ashton, Russell, Staziker, Wingfield.

Tries: Cushion 6; Irwin 28; English 39; Cannon 77.

Conversions: Ayres 6, 28, 39, 77

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Lee Jackson - there were a few contenders, but Jacko gets the nod. He scored one individual try and provided excellent scoring passes for three more, while York's worst period came while he was off the pitch.

HT: 24-18

Ref: Gareth Hewer (Wakefield)

Rating: Not the strictest by any means but not too bad.

Penalty Count: 8-5.

Gamebreaker: Nathan Graham's try just before the hour upped the gap to 16 points and, with York in control, there was no way back for the Lions.

Attendance: 1,411.

Weather watch: dry, warm.

Match rating: Swinton threatened to make a game of it and it made for an entertaining game ending with a worthy home win.

Updated: 11:14 Monday, May 31, 2004