York Knights weather storm in thrilling 26-24 win at Sheffield Eagles

Sheffield had struck first under the floodlights in a match that seemed in every sense a play-off, with the magnitude of two points in the race for the top six not lost on either side.

The Eagles though found themselves undone by simple mistakes on the artificial surface.

Ata Hingano picked off a sloppy offload and ran the length of the field to bring the scores level, and Nikau Williams met a stunning inside pass to crash over from close range after interchange hooker Josh Daley had been hit high.

A high tackle on Wakefield loanee Joe Law opened the door for returning captain Liam Harris to score on the half-hour, but though James Glover replied on the stroke of half time, the Knights still held an 18-12 lead at the break.

Scoring the first try after the interval was crucial, but that did not come until the 58th minute, Harris capitalising on another poor pass before running onto his own grubber to score.

A penalty goal four minutes later looked to have seen York home safe and dry, but Sheffield had other ideas, instead setting up a tense finale.

Matty Dawson-Jones found the left corner, and with the Knights playing an incredibly high defensive line, Anthony Thackeray broke through before feeding the supporting Tyler Dickinson to bring the scores back within two.

Luck though was with the visitors, who have left things in their own hands ahead of a tantalising final day showdown with Featherstone Rovers next Sunday.

MATCH RECAP: Sheffield Eagles 24-26 York Knights 

Mark Applegarth made three changes, with captain Harris and prop Ukuma Ta’ai both handed starts upon their returns from hamstring injuries in place of Brad Ward and Jack Martin, who dropped to the bench.

Australian second-rower Jesse Dee also returned to the interchanges following a bicep injury, with Jack Teanby serving his one-match suspension after an intentional trip at Widnes and Bailey Antrobus 18th man.

Sheffield, able to welcome back playmaker Thackeray from injury in time for the final home match of a long career, named a line-up of 1-13, including fellow ex-Knights Matty Marsh, Ben Jones-Bishop and Glover.

The hosts, known for their fast starts, raced out of the blocks in search of a fourth win against the Knights in 2024, and were rewarded with the opening try with just four minutes on the clock.

York coughed up a trio of cheap penalties close to their own line, and it was almost inevitable that they would be punished, with Titus Gwaze crashing onto Thackeray’s short ball and slicing through to score just to the left of the posts.

Cory Aston added the extras with ease before setting his side on the attack again with a perfectly weighted 40/20.

The Knights struggled to live with their opponents’ intensity but brought themselves onto the board against the run of play just three minutes later, Hingano reacting quickest to pick off a loose offload before running the length of the field to score beneath the posts.

Ata Hingano ran the length of the field to bring the Knights onto the board against the run of play. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography)

Williams brought the scores level with ease and came close to adding his own name to the scoresheet from the restart, but having bundled himself across the line, was held up by some fantastic scramble defence.

Harris was next to try his luck after jinking through a gap in the Eagles’ defence, but though winning a drop-out from Hingano’s grubber on the last, his side could not capitalise.

Interchanges threatened to disrupt rhythm, but it was the Knights who remained on top, Joe Brown seeming set to score into the right corner but knocking on with the line gaping.

They though were in front on 26 minutes, as from the field position gained from a high tackle on Daley, Hingano flicked a stunning inside pass to Williams, who danced through to score beneath the posts before converting his own try.

Jacob Gannon’s knock-on at the play-the-ball provided Sheffield some brief field position, but their sloppiness paved the way for the visitors to fire themselves further ahead.

Law was caught high after he had picked up a loose Eagles pass, and was instrumental in the aftermath, dancing his way to the 10-metre line before Harris won the foot race to touch down Hingano’s grubber to the right of the posts.

Williams again added the extras, but it was the hosts who had the final word of an evenly matched opening half, sending Glover across into the left corner against his former side from a scrum on the 20-metre line.

Aston’s conversion brought the scores back within six, but it was still all to play for in the second half.

Knowing the importance of scoring the next try, York raced out of the blocks after the break, with Brenden Santi held up before Marsh was pushed back across his own line by an outstanding chase.

Williams though let the resultant drop-out slip through his fingers as another chance passed his side by.

Oli Field was dragged into touch as the Knights looked to exploit the right edge, but with Sheffield’s mistakes continuing into the second half, they eventually found another breakthrough shortly before the hour.

The Eagles again threw a sloppy pass, with Harris pouncing, running onto his own grubber to score next to the posts.

Captain Liam Harris scored a brace of tries, including this second-half effort. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography)

Williams’ conversion handed York a 12-point lead, and that quickly grew after a soft penalty given in Hingano’s favour against Sheffield prop Eddie Battye on the 30-metre line.

That though only served to kick the hosts into gear.

First, Dawson-Jones broke down the left wing, setting up the field position for Thackeray’s cross-field chip, which was kept alive by Glover and Joel Farrell for the winger to score into the corner.

They then built on Farrell’s outstanding run out of backplay, Thackeray racing clear from the 40-metre line before unselfishly feeding Dickinson to set up a nail-biting conclusion.

It was though the Knights’ evening, with Thackeray’s forward pass in the dying seconds killing off any chance of a perfect comeback.

SHEFFIELD EAGLES: Marsh, Jones-Bishop, Welham, Glover, Dawson-Jones, Aston, Thackeray, Battye, Halafihi, Dickinson, Bower, Farrell, Gwaze.

INTERCHANGES: Broadbent, Clark, Wood, Roberts

TRIES: Gwaze (4), Glover (36), Dawson-Jones (73), Dickinson (76)

GOALS: Aston 4/4

YORK KNIGHTS: Williams, Brown, Field, Law, Lineham, Hingano, Harris, Michael, Jubb, Ta’ai, Bailey, Gannon, Thompson.

INTERCHANGES: Dee, Santi, Daley, Martin.

TRIES: Hingano (7), Williams (26), Harris (30, 58)

GOALS: Williams 5/5

POINTS SEQUENCE: 4-0, 6-0, 6-4, 6-6, 6-10, 6-12, 6-16, 6-18, 10-18, 12-18, 12-22, 12-24, 12-26, 16-26, 18-26, 22-26, 24-26

HALF TIME: 12-18

YORK’S STAR MAN: Ata Hingano. The half-back set up the Knights’ first three tries before winning them a late penalty, which ultimately decided the outcome.

REFEREE: Liam Rush