THE noise was deafening. “Championee, championee.” “We are going up.” “Are you watching, Bradford Bulls.”

It wasn’t easy – far from it. Just like it hasn't been all season.

But York City Knights are indeed going up, after beating Whitehaven 32-14 to seal the Betfred League One crown at a bouncing, buzzing, buoyant Bootham Crescent.

At 10-8 at half-time, the game was still anybody’s.

But James Ford’s team have had a habit of winning tight matches this season and their territorial dominance in the first half began to tell on the scoreboard in the second as the lead stretched out.

The result – a 15th straight victory since defeat in the reverse fixture at Whitehaven back in May – saw them finish two points above Bradford, the huge title favourites.

It also ended Haven’s season, denying them a place in the play-offs – and avenging their victory in last season’s epic play-off semi-final at the Recre.

And, for good measure, Connor Robinson set new all-time York RL records for goals and points in a season, ending with 186 and 420 respectively, to top Danny Brough’s marks of 178 and 412 set in 2004.

It was indeed a great day, and the celebrations in front of a bumper 3,000-plus crowd rightly went on for some time, the team being presented with the trophy on the pitch while the Champagne flowed.

Given the reactions in the stands, there will likely be some sore heads in the morning.

There had been plenty of pomp and ceremony at kick-off, too, the crowds having begun to gather long before 3pm.

Andy Ellis in his 350th and final career appearance led the team out ahead of skipper Tim Spears, every player walking out with a mascot too.

The crowd was duly expectant.

However, the Knights have beaten Whitehaven only once in seven previous league meetings since being re-formed in 2003, that win coming back in 2006. Haven are also one of only two teams to beat York this campaign too.

It wasn’t going to be straightforward.

Ford made four changes to the side that saw off Hemel last week - hooker Ellis, centre Joe Batchelor, second-row Sam Scott and sub forward Joel Edwards all returning after being rested for that straightforward win.

His biggest calls were probably selecting the inexperienced former York Acorn amateur Matt Chilton on the wing ahead of League One Young Player of the Year candidate Judah Mazive and young Ronan Dixon at prop ahead of the much more experienced crowd favourite Adam Robinson.

Both justified selection – the former finishing two brilliant tries too, to the delight in particular of the Acorn contingent in the crowd.

Whitehaven were missing a few players, not least captain Marc Shackley, the man of the match the last time these teams met, fellow forward Scott McAvoy and centre Chris Taylor.

But Callum Phillips passed fit to play at half-back and he was alongside Steve Roper, York’s nemesis a year ago with the golden-point drop goal. Roper had returned to Haven after spending most of the season at North Wales.

Prop Carl Forster played at loose-forward in his last game as player-coach – his imminent departure caused by Haven’s current financial struggles.

Dion Aiye, the utility star who was at stand-off in the last meeting, was selected in the second row alongside fellow PNG favourite Jesse Joe Nandye (formerly Parker) at centre. That was an obviously dangerous combination on the left edge - but it was shackled by Batchelor, Scott and Ben Cockayne.

York played for territory early on, but passed up a penalty chance after a foul on Graeme Horne 30 metres out.

Whitehaven did no such thing. A harsh penalty for holding down relieved the pressure and a second followed for a high tackle.

Full-back Dan Abram knocked over the two points from 40 metres – on the first occasion the visitors had been in home territory.

York won the ball from the restart - skipper Tim Spears as ever leading the charge – but the set ended with Josh Jordan-Roberts being dumped on his back on the try-line.

The game continued to be played in Haven’s half and a penalty right in front of the sticks gave York the chance to level the scores. This time they accepted the points and Robinson duly broke the York RL goals in a season record with his 179th of term.

The second time Whitehaven got into the home half, they were given another penalty – Ellis adjudged to have interfered at the play-the-ball – but this time Abram missed from a similar spot.

They did win a dropout from the next set – Matty Marsh smartly covering a Nandye grubber – but York’s defence would not be breached.

Instead they won a dropout of their own – Hey closing down Robinson’s grubber – and a high tackle saw Robinson put his team ahead with the close-range penalty.

Good runs by subs Harry Carter and Joe Porter lifted the crowd but Haven’s defence was proving obstinate.

Then came the moment.

Batchelor and Marsh did well on the right to threaten the line and retain possession. The ball was quickly spread left where winger Chilton had half a chance but got the ball down in the corner under great pressure. The roar was deafening.

On-loan Leeds prop Jack Ormondroyd was not having a great first stint off the bench, though, and his third spill handed Haven an immediate riposte – and they took the chance, on loan St Helens hooker Josh Eaves going under the sticks from dummy-half and Abram goaling to level at 8-8.

York again won the ball back from the restart and, while Hey was denied when held up over the line, they did win a penalty and Robinson’s third two-pointer put them 10-8 up on the half-time hooter.

This was far too close than anyone wanted.

Haven slowed the game down at every opportunity on the resumption – but when they did so by preventing Porter from playing the ball, a penalty was awarded and Robinson made it 12-8.

That also saw him equal Brough’s points in a season record, of 412.

When Aussie Edwards expertly won another penalty, Robinson made it 14-8 – and set his second all-time club record of the day.

The contest was still tight, though. Step up Joe Batchelor.

On his last York appearance before his move to St Helens, the centre – showing Super League class - created half a yard on the right edge and slipped a pass back inside for Scott to finish.

The Knights so nearly scored again in the same spot after a break by Cockayne. The result instead was a dropout – and from it they did cross.

Edwards, such a super late-season signing, showed his NRL class with a twist and shout on the try-line, Robinson’s first conversion of the day making it 24-8.

The Champagne was quickly put back on ice, after a brilliant Haven try in the left corner set up by Nandye and scored by Jordan Burns. Abram goaled brilliantly too.

But then the bottles of bubbly were being readied again.

Haven player-boss Forster, trying to create something with the clock having ticked into the last 10 minutes, sent out a loose offload that Robson was onto like a flash.

He took the ball left and fed Robinson, who sent Chilton sprinting in the left corner for his second try. Selection justified.

Robinson goaled from the touchline too.

The scrum-half soon thought he was adding a try to his tally as he darted to the line but it was correctly ruled out for obstruction.

He nevertheless had the last word with his sixth penalty of the day a minute from time - before the hooter signalled wild celebrations on and off the pitch.