YORK City Knights reserves suffered a late sucker punch last night as they lost 17-16 to Halifax at Huntington Stadium.

The lead fluctuated in a first half which ended 16-16, and the only point of the second period came from a drop goal in the dying minutes from the visitors’ Brad Radcliffe.

York, showing excellent defence for the most part, had enjoyed a fair amount of pressure in that second half, despite inconsistent set completion and some controversial refereeing, and could have gone ahead with a Lee Waterman penalty which sailed just wide.

The home tries had come from centre Waterman, hooker Kris Brining and full-back Ben Dent, Waterman goaling two.

Fax’s tries came from captain Chris Holroyde, Danny Moran, and Jessjo Sherrife, with two conversions from Ahjay Hussain.