Blackburn 24 York 26: Thornton relief as York escape against Royals

The National Conference League club seemed to have won it when Greg Hale crossed with three minutes left, Lee Marsh converting for a 24-20 lead.

However, Championship side York won the ball back from the restart and, with the last play of the game, Jonny Presley’s kick was touched down by Tom Carr, who added the goal for victory.

Relieved Knights boss Gary Thornton said: “We played our get out of jail free card. Blackbrook were fantastic to a man and probably deserved to win.”

The Knights had gone ahead through James Ford after good runs by Presley and Nathan Freer.

But Blackbrook turned it around with tries either side of half-time through Craig Lyon and, with the defence at sixes and sevens, the excellent Lee Marsh, who added both conversions.

York hit back with a fine try not in keeping with their display, Presley the finisher after excellent work by Adam Sullivan and James Haynes, Carr goaling.

But Brook retook the lead on the back of Marsh’s great run. Hale took it on down the left flank and kicked inside for Sean Forber to score, Stephen Parkinson goaling.

York levelled again as Jack Lee somehow touched down from close-range, Carr goaling, and they eked ahead with a Carr penalty, before that late drama.

Amateurs Leigh Miners Rangers came close to causing a shock when they led Championship club Barrow 12-6 at half-time thanks to tries from Sean Pendlebury and Scott O’Brien, converted by Jonathon Youds. Raiders ran in second-half tries through James Dandy, Sean Casey, Jack Spencer and Daniel Toal to clinch a 28-12 victory and spare their blushes.