YORK Knights pair James Cunningham and Conor Fitzsimmons have been fined by the Rugby Football League after their defeat to runaway leaders Featherstone Rovers on Saturday evening.

Thankfully for York, who already have eight members of their squad sidelined through injury, the pair have avoided suspension.

Cunningham has been charged with a Grade B contact off the ball incident, with Fitzsimmons penalised for a Grade B charge after kicking out of a tackle.

Both players have been fined £125 by the disciplinary panel.

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It is not the first time that the Knights have been charged this season, with veteran second-rower Danny Kirmond twice serving suspensions after incidents against Toulouse Olympique and Sheffield Eagles.

The Knights have also successfully appealed a Grade F charge for testicle attacking - one that would have seen star player Bailey Antrobus handed an eight-match ban.

Former Leeds Rhinos winger Luke Briscoe, who clashed with Fitzsimmons in an incident in the first half that saw the Knights man sin-binned, has perhaps surprisingly escaped any punishment.

Despite appearing to have caught Fitzsimmons with an elbow to the face, the panel have deemed that his action was appropriate in freeing his arm from the tackle and therefore requires no further action.

Head coach Andrew Henderson conceded that his side were "second best" against the unbeaten Betfred Championship leaders in front of a bumper crowd at the LNER Community Stadium, but was pleased with the efforts of his depleted side.

Gareth Gale made it seven tries in his two matches against York this season, stealing the headlines after crossing the whitewash on four occasions, as Featherstone eased to a 46-16 victory.