York Knights into Play-off Semi-Final with 27-10 win against Widnes

The rollercoaster ride of 2024 is not over yet, with a trip to either League Leaders’ Shield winners Wakefield Trinity or Toulouse Olympique on the cards for Mark Applegarth’s side next weekend.

York bowed out of the play-offs at this stage last year, but after the scores had been tied at 10 apiece at the interval, moved up a gear to completely blow the Vikings away during the second half to seal their spot in the Semi-Final for just the second time.

Widnes nudged themselves in front early on through a Tom Gilmore penalty, and the half-back again levelled the scores after Lineham had strolled over unopposed into the left corner.

Wakefield loanee Joe Law restored the Knights’ lead just before the half-hour as the game ebbed back the way of the hosts, only for Rhodri Lloyd to wrestle his way across on the stroke of half time to again peg them back.

But after a dressing down from head coach Mark Applegarth at half time, York were a side transformed, with the Vikings having no answer to their line speed, intensity and go-forward.

Nikau Williams again found Lineham to score his second six minutes after the interval before Liam Harris’ drop-goal opened up a two-try advantage.

Second-rower Jesse Dee then defied the odds to score from an interception on halfway but the day belonged to Lineham, who combined with Williams a third time to put the game firmly to bed with 15 minutes left to play.

MATCH RECAP: York Knights 27-10 Widnes Vikings - Play-off Eliminator 

Applegarth made three changes from last weekend’s win against Featherstone, notably handing Sam Cook his first minutes since early August at hooker in place of Will Jubb, who dropped to 18th man.

Jordan Thompson replaced Jack Martin at prop, with James Cunningham back in to start at loose forward and Jack Teanby reinstated to the bench.

Widnes were without Shane Grady but did welcome back Jordan Johnstone for the first time since his knee injury during the sides’ league match last month.

York showed a slight nervousness from the opening minute, with Cook’s terrible pass to Harris leaving the half-back with little by way of options, before Williams spilled Gilmore’s spiralling kick on his 10-metre line.

Not just content with having granted their opponents healthy field position, the Knights then coughed up a cheap penalty for offside, Gilmore making no mistake from the tee to put his side in front with five minutes on the clock.

However, the hosts provided an instant response.

Joe Brown’s kick-off had Mike Butt grasping at the ball, and they made no mistake from the resultant drop-out, Williams weaving through some patchy defence before throwing a sublime cut-out pass to Lineham, who strolled across into the left corner unopposed to put his side in front.

Tom Lineham strolled across into the left corner to get the Knights on the board. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography) Game plans soon became ever clearer, York exploiting a weakness in Widnes’ right edge defence, whilst the out of position Williams was a target under repeated high balls.

The Knights though were made to pay for their ill-discipline a second time on the quarter-hour, a high shot handing Gilmore the simplest of efforts from in front of the posts.

And the Vikings, sensing their opportunity, came close to nudging themselves in front five minutes later after Gilmore’s kick on the last had been missed by Williams, however, Matty Flemming could not find a willing runner in support as he was brought down on the 10-metre line.

York had been sluggish in their attack but began to find joy as the half-hour approached, with Ata Hingano riding an ankle tap before Jack Owens had one bite too many at his opposite number on the kick return.

Hingano, Harris and Williams then combined, bamboozling the Widnes defence, who left Law in acres of space to touch down on the left edge. Williams’ conversion opened up a six-point gap.

Joe Law found a way through on the left edge for his second try against Widnes this season. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography) The young centre almost had his second from the restart after dancing his way through the Vikings’ defence, only to knock-on as he was tackled.

But it was the visitors who pulled back level on the stroke of half time, building on a scrum, and then a six-again on the 10-metre line to send Lloyd across into the right corner on the powerplay.

York though were a side transformed after the break, putting the result beyond doubt.

Ryan Ince wobbled under Harris’ swirling kick before Owens conceded a drop-out within minutes of the restart.

Though Widnes looked to have had things under control, Williams and Hingano kept the ball alive before again finding Lineham, who just managed to ground the ball before he was bundled into touch.

Williams improved the try with a stunning touchline effort before shepherding out Gilmore’s chip for a 20-metre restart.

Another drop-out soon followed after Hingano had batted Harris’ kick back into play, but Oli Field was stopped 10 metres short on the last tackle.

After the Knights had again brought themselves within 15 metres of the Widnes line, Harris eased over a drop-goal to further widen the scoreline.

The Vikings looked to inject pace through the centre of the field but instead left themselves exposed, Dee picking off a loose pass on halfway before defying the odds to win the foot race and touch down next to the posts just after the hour.

Ata Hingano was not the only person in disbelief at Dee's halfway effort. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography) And Lineham had victory wrapped up just three minutes later, Hingano and Williams again combining to free the winger to complete his hat-trick.

Widnes did offer a late flurry of chances, with Matty Fozard bringing them to the 10-metre line, only for a pass intended for Ince from the next tackle to fly past the winger and into touch.

Captain Harris was withdrawn in the dying minutes, seeing Cook slip into the halves, though the ice strapped to his calf at full time is thought to be nothing but a precaution ahead of next weekend’s crucial Semi-Final.

YORK KNIGHTS: Williams, Brown, Field, Law, Lineham, Hingano, Harris, Thompson, Cook, Ta’ai, Dee, Bailey, Cunningham.

INTERCHANGES: Santi, Michael, Daley, Teanby

TRIES: Lineham (7, 46, 65), Law (27), Dee (62)

GOALS: Williams 3/5

DROP GOAL: Harris (56)

WIDNES VIKINGS: Owen, Butt, Bardsley-Rowe, Fleming, Ince, Lyons, Gilmore, Bent, Fozard, Murray, Lloyd, Lannon, Field.

INTERCHANGES: Johnstone, Kirk, Roberts, Reilly.

TRIES: Lloyd (37)

GOALS: Gilmore 3/3

POINTS SEQUENCE: 0-2, 4-2, 4-4, 8-4, 10-4, 10-8, 10-10, 14-10, 16-10, 17-10, 21-10, 23-10, 27-10

HALF TIME: 10-10

YORK’S STAR MAN: Tom Lineham. The winger proved his doubters wrong with a hat-trick but was also impressive in defence in a strong all-around performance.

REFEREE: James Vella