YORK City Knights’ barren run against Sheffield Eagles stretched to nine games last night as they lost 46-14 at Bramall Lane – suffering new injury woe to boot.

Not only did they lose captain James Ford in the warm-up, to a groin injury on his return from a quad strain, but Jason Golden, who took the armband in his stead, was helped off at the start of the second half with what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder.

Then, midway through the second period, there was a five-minute stoppage as George Elliott, in his seasonal bow, was treated by the doctor before gingerly departing the field.

The Knights had been in the game at the time of Golden’s departure, trailing only 18-8 and somewhat harshly, with eight of the points having something to do with whistle-happy referee Matthew Thomason’s judgements.

They battled on, too, again giving a decent game to one of the Kingstone Press Championship’s top sides, but the champions were always in control on the scoreboard, if flattered by late tries.

There were two debutants in the Knights side, with Craig Potter – whose signing was revealed in The Press on Thursday and confirmed by the club yesterday – starting at prop and second-row Jack Iley on the bench, in a team much-changed from the one that ran Halifax close.

Adam Sullivan was left out, and Sam Scott was sidelined with his lower back injury. Golden was back in the second row, if briefly, alongside Dean Hadley, with Jack Aldous switching to loose-forward.

Fit-again Danny Nicklas returned at scrum-half, while Ford’s late withdrawal saw James Haynes start at centre, while Aaron Lyons, who played 80 minutes for the reserves 24 hours earlier, was called up to the bench.

Dringhouses lad Ed Smith was ruled out with a dead leg. In fact neither Smith featured as big brother Pat was also omitted from the Eagles side, with Patch Walker returning in his half-back stead.

Sheffield likewise had a much-changed team. Having run with no props on the bench away to Workington, there were three this time, compared to York’s one.

It was the key component in the middle of the Eagles’ front row, however, who opened the scoring, Andrew Henderson getting over from dummy-half, the chance seeming more obvious high up in the Bramall Lane stands than it obviously had to York’s goalline defence. Dom Brambani added the first of his six conversions.

York were making errors with the ball, too, Hadley inexplicably dropping it 20 metres from his own line, only a great tackle from Elliott denying fit-again Vinny Finigan – making his seasonal debut – a try in the corner. Hadley otherwise did well again, the team also lifting their game.

They nearly equalised when smart play by Nicklas saw Haynes cross the whitewash, only to be denied the touchdown.

However, ill-fortune helped to increase the deficit, as Elliott challenged two home players under a Brambani kick, the loose ball giving Finigan an easy score. It all came from a harsh penalty awarded by Thomason at the other end, for crossing, when Tom Carr had simply slipped in possession.

Following another penalty, Duane Straugheir benefited with a good finish against his former club – albeit through indifferent defence.

Iley came on after 27 minutes, coinciding with York’s first try.

A Nicklas kick was spilled by Misi Taulapapa, then a penalty followed, and, from the third set in the danger zone, Elliott finished superbly down the touchline.

Another Nicklas crossfield kick nearly brought a second try, Jack Latus unable to jump high enough.

Elliott was fielding kicks well in the opposite corner, though, and, from a counter-attack he and Haynes inspired, sub hooker Jonny Presley scored well from dummy-half against his former club.

Another ex-Eagle, Brown, who won the title with Sheffield last year, was decidedly off-target with the boot. The stand-off was clearly struggling with a back injury.

It was game on again, but then up popped ref Thomason to dent the Knights’ hopes.

Not only did he take a half-chance away when deeming Hadley had pushed Brambani when chasing a chip over the defence – if anything it was obstruction – but it also allowed Brambani to rub salt into York wounds by booting the penalty from half-way on the half-time hooter.

There were four penalties in all when York played Halifax. There had been 15 by half-time last night.

Another two at the start of the second half, either side of Golden’s departure, preceded a second easy finish for Finigan.

Then Elliott, under pressure, failed to take a chip, and Menzie Yere scored.

York held on in there, Presley scoring again from a clever Nicklas kick, with Tom Carr converting while Brown had treatment on his back.

However, as they hunted a bonus point, Sheffield counter-attacked with a quick 20-metre restart, Quentin Laulu-Togagae the scorer. Yere also got an easy second late on, before Tom Armstrong finished the try of the night.

Match facts

Sheffield: Laulu-Togagae, Finigan, Yere, Armstrong, Taulapapa, Walker, Brambani, Higgins, Henderson, Stringer, Knowles, Straugheir, Hirst. Subs (all used): Scott, Davey, Green, Roche.

Tries: Henderson 4; Finigan 16, 43; Straugheir 19; Yere 48, 77; Laulu-Togagae 71; Armstrong 79.

Conversions: Brambani 4, 19, 48, 71, 77, 79.

Penalty: Brambani 40.

Knights: Carr 6, Latus 6, Haynes 6, Briscoe 7, Elliott 7, Brown 6, Nicklas 7, Bowden 7, Lee 7, Potter 6, Hadley 7, Golden 6, Aldous 8. Subs (all used): Presley 8, Iley 6, Bell 6, Lyons 6.

Tries: Elliott 28; Presley 38, 52.

Conversion: Carr 52.

Man of the match: Jonny Presley – two tries in a busy performance off the bench against his former club.

Referee: Matthew Thomason (Warrington) – late replacement for Gareth Hewer was pretty whistle-happy, even awarding a penalty for crossing when Tom Carr simply slipped.

Penalties: 11-10.

Half-time: 18-8.

Attendance: 1,011.

Weather: nippy but okay.

Moment of the match: George Elliott’s try – scoring aside the touchline when he seemed sure to be tackled over the sideline.

Gaffe of the match: Dean Hadley inexplicably dropped the ball unchallenged, only a George Elliott tackle on Vinny Finigan preventing Sheffield from scoring with the resultant set.

Gamebreaker: the departure to injury of Jason Golden at the start of the second half, followed by two Eagles tries, put the hosts clear while York started to lose bodies.

Match rating: another gutsy effort from injury-hit York showing they can give top Championship sides a game, in periods at least, but there was no reward.