Late Ratcliffe leveller denies York victory after stirring fightback

York had trailed 26-4 soon after the interval but led 28-26 until Ratcliffe’s late leveller from in front of the posts.

Hunslet’s Stuart Kain was expecting to sit the afternoon out but when centre Dave Clayton was injured in the warm-up, Kain came in on the left wing and scored the first try.

Kain wasn’t even named among the substitutes before Clayton’s mishap and the change resulted in Richie Barnett switching from the wing into the centre.

Hooker Jack Lee quickly levelled the scores for York, but the Hawks hit them with three tries in six minutes.

Elliot Kear celebrated an agreement to extend his loan from Crusaders by crossing in the 28th minute, Ratcliffe ran half the length of the field to the posts two minutes later and Barnett then finished off a slick passing move on the right. Ratcliffe improved his own try and Kear’s as Hunslet led 20-4 at half-time.

York completed a host of full sets, preferring not to kick on the last tackle, but the Hawks defended stubbornly and when stand-off Danny Grimshaw dummied his way over for the home side’s fifth try, York were left with a daunting task.

They responded magnificently, however, to lead with tries by Steve Lewis, Dave Sutton and Matt Garside (2), all converted by Chris Thorman, but when the Knights were penalised for holding in the tackle, Ratcliffe was on hand to hold his nerve and level the scores.

Hunslet Hawks: Ratcliffe; Pryce, Kear, Barnett, Kain; Grimshaw, P March; Sullivan, Haigh, Cakacaka, Kelly, Haughey, D March. Substitutes: Houston, Blakeway, Lowe, McLocklan.

York City Knights: Bush; Sutton, Straugher, Thompson, Wilson; Thorman, Presley; Massey, Lee, Benson, Clarke, Jones, Davies. Substitutes: Freer, Barron, Lewis, Garside.

Referee: G Stokes (Wigan).