York Knights' winning run ends with 20-4 defeat at Wakefield Trinity

Trinity, who have been in a class of their own this season, were overwhelming favourites at the DIY Kitchens Stadium, but the Knights could not be faulted for their efforts on a rainy afternoon in West Yorkshire.

York certainly showed up for Mark Applegarth on his return to his former club, but with Sheffield Eagles beating fellow play-off hopefuls Featherstone Rovers, there is now a greater onus placed on Friday’s clash at Olympic Legacy Park in the race for the top six.

Wakefield, as expected, raced out of the blocks, and threatened to run away with things after quick-fire tries from Max Jowitt and Luke Gale put them 12 points to the good inside as many minutes.

York though crucially responded by sending Brad Ward across into the left corner midway through the first half to stop the rot.

The experienced Jermaine McGillvary extended Trinity’s lead shortly before half time, but they did not build upon that until the final stages, with Derell Olpherts finding a way through to wrap up victory late on.

Whilst defeat sees the Knights slip to sixth, they nonetheless showed plenty of encouragement ahead of their final two regular season matches and were far improved from their 40-4 and 50-6 defeats to Wakefield earlier in the season.

MATCH RECAP: Wakefield Trinity 20-4 York Knights

Applegarth made three changes from last weekend’s ugly win at Widnes, with Jordan Thompson returning from his two-match suspension to start at loose forward, Ronan Michael preferred at prop and Tom Lineham playing his first minutes in four months against his former side after a pectoral tear.

James Cunningham was not included in the matchday squad, whilst AJ Towse missed out due to concussion protocols and Bailey Antrobus dropped to the bench.

Joe Law was cleared to play against his parent club.

Wakefield themselves named a strong line-up, with half-back Gale returning to play his first match in over a month, former Knights loanee Oli Pratt starting in the centres, and Jowitt providing plenty of strike from full-back.

The hosts showed their intent from the outset, winning back-to-back goal-line drop-outs after Joe Brown had thought better of leaving consecutive Gale grubbers towards the left corner.

York survived both, bringing down Liam Kay metres short on the last, however, they could not keep their hosts out for much longer.

Wakefield found joy on the right edge, with Iain Thornley escaping Law’s clutches and racing from his own 30-metre line before finding the supporting Jowitt to touch down beneath the posts.

The full-back converted with ease and did so again just two minutes later after his side had again exploited some patchy edge defence.

McGillvary, who will retire at the end of the season after an illustrious career, recycled a dreadful pass on his 40-metre line before racing clear and unselfishly passing back inside for Gale to score just to the right of the posts.

The Knights responded well, forcing Pratt into a knock-on on his 30-metre line, but Jack Martin saw the ball slip from his grasp as he was tackled.

Tom Doyle then handed York possession back from an error at the play-the-ball from the next set, and that was an opportunity that they did not let pass them by.

Brad Ward provided York's only points midway through the first half. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography)

After Nikau Williams had been felled just short, Hingano threw a lovely cut-out pass to Ward, who provided a flying finish into the left corner to bring his side onto the board.

Williams could not convert from the touchline.

Sensing their opportunity, the Knights looked to add more points from the restart, but despite winning a goal-line drop-out, Williams was stopped just metres away from the line as he looked to twist his way across from close range.

Wakefield soon offered up another opportunity after losing the ball inside their own 10-metre line, but Martin was held up.

A scrum, and then a penalty, though opened the door for the hosts to extend their lead six minutes before the break.

York had initially scrambled well after Hingano had given away a penalty for a high tackle just outside the 10-metre line, but having been forced infield, Thornley’s cut-out pass found McGillvary, who was given free rein to dive across into the right corner.

Wakefield continued to see the better of the play, with Brown taking no chances from Jowitt’s grubber, but the hooter spared their blushes.

The 16-4 half-time scoreline left things very much still to play for, with the Knights quick out of the blocks in a bid to strike early after the break.

Gale could not keep hold of the ball as he was tackled, but though Lineham was able to take in Williams’ cut-out pass, he was bundled into touch as he seemed set to score into the right corner.

York squandered another opportunity from the next set, with Connor Bailey held up as they looked to make the most of Wakefield’s hesitancy towards Hingano’s spiralling kick.

A high tackle threatened to see the Knights reduced to 12 men for the second consecutive week, with both sides coming together, but James Vella ruled the altercation to just be a Wakefield penalty.

Jordan Thompson was named the Man of the Match upon his return from a two-match suspension. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography)

The introduction of Australian flyer Lachlan Walmsley, who had already scored seven tries across the sides’ previous two meetings this season, added a renewed energy to the hosts, but it was York who continued to see the better of the chances.

Lineham’s grubber forced Jowitt into conceding a drop-out, but despite Oli Field’s best efforts, he could not keep the ball in play.

Wakefield looked to capitalise, but Lineham did just enough to stop Gale’s grubber metres from his own line.

However, another penalty opened the door for Trinity to deliver a final blow four minutes from time, Jowitt throwing a cut-out pass for Olpherts to race across into the left corner to wrap up the scoring.

York will hope to return to winning ways at Sheffield Eagles on Friday evening (7:30pm).

WAKEFIELD TRINITY: Jowitt, McGillvary, Thornley, Pratt, Olpherts, Gale, Kay, Bowden, Doyle, Atoni, Ashurst, Griffin, Pitts.

INTERCHANGES: Walmsley, Uele, Rodwell, Vagana

TRIES: Jowitt (9), Gale (11), McGillvary (34), Olpherts (76)

GOALS: Jowitt 2/4

YORK KNIGHTS: Brown, Lineham, Field, Law, Ward, Williams, Hingano, Michael, Jubb, Martin, Bailey, Gannon, Thompson.

INTERCHANGES: Teanby, Santi, Daley, Antrobus.

TRIES: Ward (18)

GOALS: Williams 0/1

POINTS SEQUENCE: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 12-0, 12-4, 16-4, 20-4

HALF TIME: 16-4

YORK’S STAR MAN: Jordan Thompson. An industrious performance as ever from the loose forward, who was persistent in his bid for metres against a staunch Wakefield defence.

ATTENDANCE: 5137

REFEREE: James Vella