COACH Richard Agar had said last week that he hoped York City Knights would have a "trick up their sleeve" yesterday.

But they had more than that. They pulled a bunch of flowers out of their jacket, sawed a woman in half, levitated and made the Statue of Liberty disappear as they somehow won 29-26 at National League One outfit Featherstone to set up a Challenge Cup quarter-final at Super League side Huddersfield.

The Knights went to revenge-seeking Rovers with a squad decimated by injury and absences.

Indeed, on Friday they only had 15 fit players, with the 17 on duty being completed at late notice by the shock re-turns of recently re-tired Rich Hayes, who dusted off his boots one more time, and Danny Seal, who was expected to have work commitments until next month.

Their appearances were the "trick" Agar had referred to - but the real magic came on the pitch where a performance of incredible character and belief culminated in an escape act Harry Houdini himself would have been proud of.

Down to 12 men for almost all the game after centre Aaron Wood was sent off for a high tackle in the tenth minute, the Knights built a first-half lead but saw it slowly eked away and were dealt a cruel blow when Rovers went ahead just four minutes from time.

But from somewhere, they dug out the energy to launch one final attack and, showing incredible bravery to run the last tackle on the short side, Mark Cain's superb pass gave Alex Godfrey - who had scored the decisive try in last week's clash between the sides - a half-chance in the corner.

The referee seemed to take an age to decide whe-ther the winger had been forced into touch, but he eventually gave the try to spark wild celebrations among the travelling hordes.

Normal time was up and, although the 90 seconds of stoppage time felt like an eternity, the hooter finally sounded to signal unreserved exultation, with the players jumping for absolute joy and the away fans - including the most grateful man of all of them, Aaron Wood - invading the pitch on mass to congratulate their heroes.

To sum up, it was the best performance by the Knights since the new club was formed 19 months ago. It was also widely regarded as the best display by any York team for many a year.

The statistics speak for themselves. It was York's first win in Featherstone for 47 years; their first Challenge Cup win over Fev for 67 years; the first time they had won six games consecutively in one season since 1992; and their first time in the last eight of the Challenge Cup since that wonderful march to the semi-finals in 1984.

They also became the only National League Two side, and one of only two National League clubs, to reach this year's quarter-finals.

It looked anything but possible once Wood, a hero in last week's home Arriva Trains Cup win over Rovers, was sent off. Granted, his arm looked high and referee Robert Connolly cannot really be slammed for showing red - although he kept his cards in his pocket when penalising Featherstone three times for high tackles.

York nevertheless regrouped and Danny Brough followed up three early penalties by firing a fierce pass to 'prodigal son' Seal - who turns 28 today - to score.

Brough converted and added a drop goal as York stayed in command with the wind at their backs.

The brilliant scrum-half then set up the next try, shaping to kick before feeding Godfrey to take on two men to touch down.

However, Featherstone were by no means out of it. They had the wind in the second half and whether York's 17-point lead would be enough was in question, especially when Matty Wray crossed just before half-time.

Two good tries within 14 minutes of the restart by Jon Presley and Richard Newlove, plus one Carl Briggs conversion, brought the hosts right back into it at 14-17 and, although Brough extended the Knights' lead with a penalty for a high shot, Rovers had the momentum and went ahead as former York Wasp Paul Darley dummied twice to go over, Briggs goaling.

Briggs added a penalty from half-way after the officials deemed Brough's restart had not gone ten metres as the wind blew it back, yet still the Knights' heads stayed high and great play down the right saw Nathan Graham cross against his former club to retake the lead on 72 minutes, Brough incredibly beating the wind to convert from the touchline.

The game, though, was far from over and when Newlove hit back with his second try with four minutes left, there seemed no way back for the shattered Knights this time.

But they won the short restart to set off the last throw of the dice, and as some fans called for a drop goal to equalise, the players - obviously not fancying extra time - instead ran in that superb try to win it.

Now that's magic.

Featherstone Rovers 26, Knights 29

Rovers: Batty, Ford, Coventry, Newlove, Wray, Presley, C Briggs, Tonks, Chapman, Dickens, Darley, Henare, A Hayes. Subs (all used): Archibald, Dooler, Jarrett, Carlton.

Tries: Wray 39; Presley 46; Newlove 54, 76; Darley 67.

Conversions: Briggs 46, 67.

Penalties: Briggs 69.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Knights: Graham 9, Stewart 8, Cain 9, Wood 5, Godfrey 10, Rhodes 9, Brough 10, R Hayes 9, Jackson 10, Sozi 9, Callaghan 9, Seal 9, Friend 9. Subs (all used): Els-ton 9, Walker 9, D Briggs 9, Forsyth 9.

Tries: Seal 22; Godfrey 35, 80; Graham 72.

Conversions: C Brough 22, 72.

Penalties: Brough 5, 13, 18, 61.

Drop goals: Brough 27.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: Wood 10.

Man of the match:

Lee Jackson - It's a case of take your pick, but Jackson oozed experience, ability and desire.

HT: 4-17

Ref: Robert Connolly (Wigan).

Rating: Inconsistent with cards for high tackles but otherwise okay.

Penalty Count: 10-8

Game-breaker: Alex Godfrey's last-minute try to win the game. It was courageous to run the last tackle on the short side but, boy, did it pay off.

Attendance: 2,234

Weather watch: dry but with a strong upfield wind.

Match rating: Best-ever performance by the Knights and the best game involving a York team for many a year.

Updated: 11:15 Monday, March 15, 2004