IF York City Knights had nothing to play for at Ram Stadium yesterday, nobody told the players.

Although they cannot progress in the Arriva Trains Cup - York will finish fourth in the East section - they are intent on hitting the Division Two league campaign running and this 28-24 victory was another major fillip.

It was the Knights' fourth win in five games and their second over Division One opposition. And it was completed with six players unavailable and a seventh, Alex Godfrey, playing despite needing a hernia operation.

Furthermore, yesterday's match was a genuine thriller and left the crowd, many of whom were from York, on the edge of their seat.

Yes, there were mistakes and both teams could play better. But the match was full of excitement and in doubt right to the final hooter.

Indeed, it was all too much for Dewsbury coach Andy Fisher, who - angry because the Rams needed the points to guarantee top spot the Central section - had his players back in training after the game.

Knights player-coach Paul Broadbent was naturally happier and credited the pride and never-say-die attitude in his team.

At 14-0 down and playing as poorly as they did in their February defeat to Dewsbury, the Knights were indeed up against it. But they rolled their sleeves up, got back on track and at the end of the first half came from nowhere to be on the Rams' coattails.

Stand-off Adam Thaler fluffed a kickable early penalty and this set the tone for the first 19 minutes as Dewsbury took control.

Danny Brough's mighty restart - the Rams scrum-half's kicking was superb throughout - went out on the York ten-metre line and from the scrum the ball went to Rochdale loanee Danny Wood, who scored on his first game back at Ram Stadium.

Brough converted and added a penalty and it got worse on 14 minutes as the usually reliable Mick Ramsden knocked on, with Dewsbury taking advantage in their next set as Anthony Thewliss crashed through a gap, Brough converting.

Things looked ominous. But wait.

Thaler more than made up for penalty miss as he scythed through from Trevor Krause's pass on the sixth tackle, converting his first-ever York try himself. It was the first time the Knights had completed a set of six.

The lesson wasn't quite learned, though, as mistakes still arose and tackles were still missed, and the Rams extended their lead to 18-6 when Thewliss crashed over in the corner, the try being given despite Scott Fletcher's apparent tackle into touch.

Nevertheless, York's heads did not go down, and another good set took play to the Dewsbury line, where Chris Smith scored a most opportunist try.

He tackled the man who had gathered York's kick and, when the acting-half at the play-the-ball passed to his right, he leapt forward to intercept and juggled the ball while diving forward to touch down.

Another superb set then drove play from one end to the other, where number nine Robinson - Knights looked better after he swapped positions with number seven Krause - sent up a tricky kick which bounced kindly for Godfrey to get to the touchdown. It was fitting reward for the winger, who was playing through the pain.

Thaler converted both tries and York, despite not playing well, were only two points behind.

A stunning period of off-loads and fine handling took play from York's line to Dewsbury's in two tackles at the start of the second period and, although nothing came from the surge, it showed York's attacking intentions, with Thaler soon booting a penalty to equalise.

It was not all York, though, as Michael Embleton - making an impressive first start - had to deny Rams winger Craig Miles with a wonderful cover tackle before the hosts regained the lead with a penalty.

However, the Knights then took the lead for the first time. Smith made ground and Gareth Lloyd did likewise before getting a fine pass to Krause, who dummied twice to scamper behind the sticks, Thaler converting and then adding a 45-metre penalty.

It was still anybody's game and Rams should have scored - Kershaw had an overlap but went alone only for Gavin Molloy and Robinson to complete a stunning tackle on the line - before they did register.

Impressive prop Frank Watene's drive and off-load opened a gap for Brough to give the scoring pass to Nathan Batty.

Brough missed the kickable conversion but Thaler was not as wasteful at the other end as he made it 28-24 with a 74th-minute penalty.

Lloyd appeared to make the game safe soon after when he gathered Daz Callaghan's up and under in the corner but he was ruled offside, which meant Dewsbury could still win with a converted try.

With two minutes left, Miles beat Molloy on the outside and headed for the corner. Smith covered superbly so Miles threw the ball inside for Kershaw with the line in sight but he could not take the pass under pressure.

It was a heart-stopping finale, and the cheer from the York faithful that greeted the hooter said it all.

Dewsbury: Batty, Wainwright, Chapman, Steel, Miles, Wood, Brough, Watene, Heptinstall, Fella, Thewliss, Kershaw, Redfern.

Subs: Elston, Barlow, Evans, Walker.

Tries: Brough 4, Thewliss 14, 31, Batty 70.

Conversions: Brough 4, 14.

Penalties: Brough 10, 50.

DG: None

Knights: Smith 8, Godfrey 7, Lloyd 8, Callaghan 7, Molloy 7, Thaler 8, Krause 7, Broadbent 7, Robinson 7, Hayes 8, Embleton 7, Fletcher 7, Ramsden 7.

Subs: Beever 6, Burland 7, Bolus 6. Subs(not used): Westmoreland.

Tries: Thaler 19, Smith 37, Godfrey 40, Krause 61.

Conversions: Thaler 19, 37, 61.

Penalties: Thaler 43, 64, 74.

DG: None

Man of the match:

Adam Thaler - a good all-round show from stand-off, with 16 points including the try that got the Knights off the mark

Updated: 11:45 Monday, April 07, 2003