Barrow 24York City Knights 20: York rally but still can’t prevent loss

Big-spending Barrow are among the favourites for the competition and seemed destined for a comfortable group stage victory after finding themselves 24-10 ahead in the third quarter.

However, the Knights fought back and were finishing the stronger when the final hooter sounded.

Barrow’s threat out wide brought tries for Mark Gleeson, fit-again winger James Nixon and Ned Catic. But York replied before half-time through Danny Wilson, from a Chris Thorman chip, and Ryan Esders, after a Thorman 40-20. Thorman also added a conversion.

Barrow looked to go on the rampage early in the second half and added tries by Nixon and Martin Ostler, both goaled by Jamie Rooney.

But again York fought back and after Lee Waterman had a try ruled out, Dave Sutton cut in from the wing to finish well. A Thorman chip was taken on by Matt Garside, who fired a scoring pass to Jonny Presley.

Barrow: Ballard, Dixon, Catic, Harrison, Nixon, Rooney, Campbell, Thackray, Gleeson, James, Ostler, Fletcher, Luisi. Substitutes: Mossop, McDermott, Knowles, Nicholson.

York: Haynes, Wilson, Straugheir, Garside, Sutton, Thorman, Presley, Jones, Lee, Massey, Davies, Esders, Benson. Substitutes: Stearman, Smith, Barlow, Waterman.

Referee: R Silverwood (Dewsbury).