FROM "rags to riches to rags" said that infamous article in the Doncaster match programme. I suppose it's back to riches now.

Maybe that slur on York City Knights - written by a Dragons contributor ahead of the Doncaster v Wigan Challenge Cup tie - was merely an unfortunate choice of words.

Either way, it came back to haunt the author as the Knights gave a performance rich in endeavour, ability, enthusiasm and courage to win 34-20. The only thing ragged come the final hooter was the Doncaster defence.

It would be a clich to say it was third time lucky against the Dragons, the visitors having defeated York in the Arriva Trains and Challenge Cup last month. But luck had little to do with it.

To come from 20-8 down against a side from a higher division, who expect to be challenging for top honours this year, says more about the make-up of the Knights rather than Lady Luck.

Granted, Doncaster played the second half a man down after Chris Ross had lamped Mark Cain, but this should not take anything away from the Knights - they could well have romped to victory with or without that advantage.

They scored 26 points without reply in 30 stunning minutes and, although this form might have arrived too late for the Knights to make an impact on the ATC, it bodes well for their promotion campaign once the League season kicks off a month tomorrow.

It started well, as Graeme Hallas booted a penalty awarded for the first of several head high tackles in the match - referee Ben Thaler unfortunately missed most of the others and indeed gave several dubious decisions throughout - but Doncaster fought back and for much of the first half imposed themselves.

They had four consecutive sets near the York line and, although the Knights showed great resolve to hold out, that defence failed when Craig Lawton got the ball out of a three-man tackle to send Paul Gleadhill unopposed into the corner, Simon Irving converting.

York were back ahead when Jonny Firth's superb pass to Hallas gave the centre the space to power over for a try he converted from the touchline. However, Chris Smith fell over the end-line when catching the restart and, from the drop-out, the impressive Paul Mansson skipped through to send Peter Green over, Irving converting.

More bad luck followed when an up-and-under saw the ball ricochet to Darren Robinson in an offside position and Irving booted the penalty to make it 14-8.

Heads did not drop, though, and some fine rugby took play up the other end, where Ross, after fumbling the ball under pressure, needlessly punched Cain from behind.

Referee Thaler missed it but produced the red card on the touch judge's advice and, although Hallas scuffed the penalty, York went into the second half with the wind, sun and numbers to their advantage.

Home hopes were dented when Marvin Golden touched down Mansson's grubber five minutes after the restart, Irving extending the lead to 12 points.

But York regrouped and got back on track five minutes later with the try of the match.

The ball went through several hands, including Cain, Smith and Daz Callaghan, and ended with Paul Broadbent touching down.

It was fitting that the comeback was started by the player-coach, whose first two matches in York's starting line-up have now gleaned two victories, and it was just as fitting that the fight-back was carried on by Scott Fletcher.

Some pundits had questioned the former BARLA Great Britain captain's ability to make the step up from the amateur game but he has got better and better in Knights colours and yesterday he was superb.

Robinson - in at hooker for the injured Lee Jackson - kicked a 40-20 to set up the field position and in the next set Fletcher side-stepped one man and darted between two others to make the line, Hallas converting.

Fletcher made several breaks during the game and his next, a 40-metre sprint, set up York's fourth try, Mark Cain dummying the whole defence and sprinting in to put York ahead, Hallas goaling.

Cain's fine pass out to Callaghan saw the centre steam over to increase the lead, and his joyous celebration suggested the players knew they had the game won.

Callaghan then turned provider as he forced the ball to the ten-yard line for Trevor Krause to somehow make it over from dummy-half, Hallas converting to complete a wonderful win.

Knights: Smith 8, Godfrey 8, Hallas 8, Callaghan 8, Molloy 8, Firth 8, Krause 8, Broadbent 8, Robinson 7, Hayes 8, Ramsden 8, Fletcher 9, Cain 8. Subs used: Lloyd 7, Bolus 8. Subs not used: Beever, Embleton.

Tries: Hallas 28, Broadbent 50, Fletcher 56, Cain 61, Callaghan 68, Krause 72.

Cons: Hallas 28, 56, 61, 72.

Pens: Hallas 6.

Dragons: Ross, Gleadhill, Golden, Irving, Lee, Mansson, Moxon, Handforth, Edwards, Forsyth, Green, Lawton, M Walker.

Subs (all used): J Walker, Coulton, Burland, Leaf.

Tries: Gleadhill 23, Green 32, Golden 45.

Cons: Irving 23, 32, 45.

Pens: Irving 34.

Sent off: Ross (39).

Man of the match: Scott Fletcher - made several superb breaks and always looked to off-load. Defensively sound too

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield)

Penalty count: 8-9

HT: 6-14

Attendance: 1,133

Updated: 10:15 Monday, March 17, 2003