York City Knights 38, Leigh Centurions 48

Dave Woods’ men – well, kids really – fell to the bottom of the table on Saturday after Toulouse took a bonus point from their defeat to Batley, and they were expected to still be propping up the standings today.

However, they defied the odds, as well as a dodgy start, to earn a bonus point themselves in a 48-38 defeat – two late tries deservedly bringing them to within 12 points of Ian Millward’s aces – to go back above the French side.

It was the first time they had taken a bonus from defeat this term and the fact they did it on the unlikeliest of days can only be good for belief. This one also put them only one point from safety.

Woods had told his players to enjoy themselves – to enjoy doing their jobs well and enjoy playing the game well because of it.

And that they did, overcoming that shaky start to pose Leigh plenty of problems and, with fine running rugby, score a few of the better tries seen at Huntington Stadium this year.

Okay, they again conceded too many, but to play with such confidence and a new-found freedom despite their predicament must be applauded.

New injury blows – star second-row Ryan Esders and goalkicking three-quarter Lee Waterman joined a growing list on the treatment table – were augmented over the weekend as reserves prop Davey Burns, himself thrust into action at Batley last week, withdrew due to illness.

This saw utility man Steve Lewis, once a winger, used as a replacement prop, while back-rower Jordan Rice, the Scotland Students player, made his first-team bow. He did okay, too, in his half-hour on the pitch.

Woods also stuck to his decision to drop Danny Wilson and play teenager Ed Smith on the wing.

The former York Acorn ARLC junior, whose future is expected to be at loose-forward, was caught out positionally once or twice but more than made amends with his bravery and gusto.

The tactical switch that paid off most, though, was putting Chris Thorman back to half-back, forming a new partnership with Anthony Thackeray.

Both looked dangerous, especially on the back of smart work by hooker Jack Lee, with player/assistant-coach Thorman a constant organiser and cajoler.

It was the 30-year-old who also got the Knights back in the game after Leigh had scored at almost a point per minute for the opening quarter through two Martin Ridyard tries, the opener from a Jamie Ellis grubber, and one from Ellis himself.

Tom Bush’s restart bounced out and, from the scrum, he went close from Thorman’s fine pass.

Thorman then dug over from acting-half. Full-back Bush missed a kickable conversion.

York then had a try by James Haynes controversially ruled out – a touch judge deeming the winger had bounced the ball in touching down.

To rub salt into home wounds, Leigh went straight up the other end for Ellis to get his second.

The scrum-half is being coveted by a few Super League clubs – he appears likely to join Hull next season – and went on to complete a first-half hat-trick to add to his growing reputation, his third touchdown coming after big Chris Hill, another star turn, juggernauted upfield.

But York showed courage to keep heads high and hit back each time.

Firstly, Thorman’s looping pass found James Ford on the burst and he sent in Jonny Presley – who had just entered the fray as substitute hooker. Bush converted.

Thorman’s pass had looked forward but, then again, Leigh got away with countless “flat” passes all day.

Secondly, with the clock ticking towards half-time, they rushed to form a scrum after a Stuart Donlan error, and that haste paid off as Jack Stearman charged over as the hooter sounded, the prop extending his notable scoring run. Bush goaled.

Former Salford stalwart Stuart Littler had a try ruled out at the start of the second half, before Tommy Goulden took up a great angle to increase Leigh’s lead.

But York, too, could have added to their tally, Stearman going close after a fine run by Haynes, who reverted to full-back in the second half due to an injury to Bush and constantly added a new dimension to the attack.

A key moment then came when Leigh looked sure to score following Steve Maden’s interception – but superb scrambling by York was backed up by a battling set.

Immediately the Knights surged forward and, after Rhys Clarke’s break, Matt Garside flew in. Thorman curled in the conversion off a post.

In the next set, Clarke finished a superb sweeping move, and Thorman goaled again.

A knock-on in the next proved costly as Ellis sent in Steve Nash, and, after another harsh penalty, David Mills touched down.

Goalkicker supreme Mick Nanyn also booted all eight conversions, but his last restart went out on the full and, following that, York finished with a bang.

Presley, now on the wing, got his second try after quick hands from Thackeray and Dave Sutton. And another wonderful try quickly followed, Duane Straugheir the finisher. Bush goaled from the touchline.

Match facts

Knights: Bush 7, Smith 7, Ford 6, Sutton 6, Haynes 8, Thackeray 8, Thorman 8, Freer 7, Lee 8, Benson 7, Straugheir 7, Garside 7, Clarke 7.

Subs (all used): Stearman 8, Rice 6, Presley 7, Lewis 6.

Tries: Thorman 21; Presley 36, 76; Stearman 40; Garside 60; Clarke 62; Straugheir 79.

Conversions: Bush 36, 40, 79; Thorman 60, 62.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Leigh: Donlan, Maden, Evans, Nanyn, McGilvray, Ridyard, Ellis, Thornley, Duffy, Nash, Higson, Littler, Govin.

Subs (all used): Nicholson, Hill, Goulden, Mills.

Tries: Ridyard 6, 19; Ellis 12, 26, 38; Goulden 54; Nash 65; Mills 72.

Conversions: Nanyn 6, 12, 19, 26, 38, 54, 65, 72.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Jack Lee – the hooker had only a short spell on the bench, yet defended with vigour throughout and his smart work at the ruck helped his half-backs to launch attacks.

Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley) – lucky dip, or unlucky dip, depending which way you look at it. Someone also needs to tell his touch judges what a forward pass is.

Penalty count: 7-6.

Attendance: 1,010.

Half-time: 16-30.

Weather: swirling winds played all sorts of tricks.

Moment of the match: York scored a few wonderful team tries showing confident handling skills and running angles that belied their lowly league position. The pick was arguably the one finished by Rhys Clarke.

Gaffe of the match: the touch judges’ failure to spot all but one of Leigh’s forward passes.

Gamebreaker: York were hanging onto Leigh’s coat-tails until the knock-on by Alex Benson lost their momentum after two quick tries, and Steve Nash made it 42-28 to Leigh with 15 minutes left.