ALL the extra defensive work in training came to nothing for York City Knights as, despite being able to glean more positives from their trip to Featherstone, they returned with no tangible reward.

Dave Woods’ men conceded eight tries to Championship leaders Leigh last week but attacked well enough to score seven and earn a bonus point.

For long periods yesterday they seemed on course for at least the same return, possibly more, from another tough assignment against a side many expect to meet the Centurions in the Grand Final.

However, despite stacks of rearguard practice in the week, they went one worse defensively, letting in nine tries, and the attack this time could not salvage a bonus as they lost 44-24 – a disappointing final quarter, in which they shipped in 18 points, ruining a fine first-half showing.

The Knights began far better up the Post Office Road slope than they had going down the even more pronounced incline at Batley a couple of weeks ago.

Indeed, they went ahead through former Fev hooker Jack Lee, the ball having ricocheted to him following a challenge under an Anthony Thackeray chip.

The first big error also came from the hosts, Bryn Powell spilling a simple kick to give York a scrum 15 metres out. From it, an interesting move ended with Matt Garside jinking home.

The natives were getting restless, but their team came back.

Their first chance took 16 minutes in coming, and, although 18-year-old Ed Smith – retaining his place on York’s left wing, and unsurprisingly being targeted by Rovers’ kickers – dealt with a difficult ball really well, an excellent defensive set drove York back in goal, and that signalled a four-try 15-minute purple patch for the hosts.

York-based Ross Divorty, the former Knight and flatmate of Knights prop Jack Stearman, expertly set up Jon Grayshon – although the scoring pass looked forward. Divorty had been promoted from the bench to a starting role at loose-forward.

Right-winger Powell also made amends for his gaffe with two tries, one from a Liam Finn kick, and the other after Andy Kain had slipped a pass out of the tackle as Chris Thorman shoved him out of bounds, the linesman deeming he had not gone in touch.

In between times, following a penalty against the otherwise excellent Garside, York fell for the faintest of dummies by Finn for the scrum-half to score and add the first of four conversions – and reach 500 career points for Rovers.

This was a weak moment for a York defence which had hitherto looked better than against Leigh and than this 20-12 deficit suggested.

Still, their attack hit back.

More great work from Garside – a half-break and pass out of the tackle – saw Jonny Presley, on at hooker, take the ball in before smartly nudging a kick forward, with Bush gathering it up expertly to cross and add his third goal for a 20-18 half-time scoreline.

There had been two surprises in Woods’ 17, with Ryan Esders and Ben Jones returning from injury.

Woods had said Jones, out since mid-March with a sternum problem, would step up his training next week to come into contention for the Widnes game, while Esders was again struggling after missing the loss to Leigh.

However, both were on the bench, meaning the dreadlocked Adam Howard was 18th man, still awaiting his Championship bow. Steve Lewis and Jordan Rice made way from last week’s 17.

Esders made his presence felt at the start of the second half when, on the last tackle, he seemed to be held up but got the ball back for Thackeray to score. Bush goaled and York were back ahead.

However, Thackeray then turned villain when, in a comedy of errors on York’s goal-line, he won then lost possession, Kain scoring.

And this was the story of the second half – good moments being wasted by bad.

Another example was Thorman’s 40-20 being followed by a cock-up at the scrum. York’s kicking game could have been better, too.

Another was a handling error from Bush during a set move – his second of the match. This saw Woods switch him to the wing, with James Haynes moving to his best position at full-back. It would be no surprise to see Haynes stay there against Widnes.

Bush stayed in the thick of it, though, just hanging onto Andy Bostock’s shirt when the big centre had the try-line in sight – but later not being able to crash him into the flag as he scored with his next chance.

This was a third Featherstone try which a video ref might have disallowed, so in that regard York were unfortunate.

However, they were their own worst enemy in these final 15 minutes.

A forced pass by Garside turned possession over on half-way, and Finn bagged his second try.

Then, after two penalties against Thackeray, Sam Smeaton darted in, and any chance of a bonus point went when Jon Hepworth finished a decent move.

Match facts

Rovers: Hardman, Powell, Chappell, Bostock, Smeaton, Kain, Finn, Haley, Kaye, Dickens, Grayshon, Spears, Divorty.

Subs (all used): Gledhill, Netherton, Morrison, Hepworth.

Tries: Grayshon 18; Powell 23, 33; Finn 27, 68; Kain 48; Bostock 65; Smeaton 73; Hepworth 78.

Conversions: Finn 27, 33, 48, 68.

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

Subs (all used): Stearman 6, Esders 7, Presley 6, Jones 7.

Tries: Lee 9; Garside 13; Bush 37; Thackeray 43.

Conversions: Bush 9, 13, 37, 43.

Man of the match: Matt Garside – an exceptional first half from the youngster was marred when turning over possession with a forced pass which led to Liam Finn’s second-half try, but he remained a standout performer.

Referee: Clint Sharrad (Manchester) – three Rovers tries were touch-and-go but otherwise he was okay.

Penalty count: 6-4.

Attendance: 1,287.

Half-time: 20-18.

Weather: some sun.

Moment of the match: Tom Bush’s try was a beauty. Chris Thorman’s pass allowed Matt Garside to make a half-break and offload to Jonny Presley, who controlled the ball and dabbed a kick forward for Bush to gather a difficult bobbling ball.

Gaffe of the match: It was not the biggest blooper but, when Anthony Thackeray smartly won possession on his own goal-line only to lose it, it allowed Rovers to take a 48th-minute lead they were not to relinquish.

Gamebreaker: The final 15 minutes saw Rovers increase their lead from 26-24 to 44-24.

Match rating: York were well in it after an excellent first hour, but their fallibility and Rovers’ winning mentality saw the hosts go clear.