Barrow Raiders 20 York City Knights 18: Knights unable to add to Featherstone shock

The hosts’ winger Adam Clay scored his hat-trick try after the final hooter had sounded to deny Gary Thornton’s side a comeback victory and back-to-back triumphs following their Good Friday disposal of Featherstone.

York had trailed twice in the first half as Clay first intercepted a loose pass on his own 10-metre line and streaked away and then finished off a neat move from a scrum involving Anthony Nicholson and Max Wiper.

In between times, the Knights levelled when Jonny Pressley sent James Ford in past a flat-footed Sean Casey.

That made it 12-6 to the home side at the break, but the visitors levelled 11 minutes into the second half as Kris Brining twisted and turned his way through the defence and stretched over between the posts.

Parity soon became an advantage for the visitors when Simon Brown sent in Ed Smith over the line.

Barrow struck back through Aaron Low, but the missed conversion meant York were still in front and they held out against sustained pressure until the final minute.

Presley conceded a drop-out to give Barrow a final set with a minute to go and, after Nathan Mossop appeared to have knocked on under the sticks – missed by referee Chris Leatherbarrow – the ball went wide to Clay, who scored in the corner to break the City Knights’ hearts.

Barrow Raiders: Backhouse, Brannnon, Low, Wiper, Clay, Finch, Casey, Butler, Nicholson, Spencer, Haggerty, Harrison, Toal. Substitutes: Mossop, Dawson, Brennan, Haggarty.

York City Knights: Carr, Browne, Ford, Latus, Haynes, Brown, Presley, Potter, Lee, Aldous, Smith, Pickles, Freer. Substitutes: Brining, Iley, Stenchion, Bell.

Referee: C Leatherbarrow (RFL).