London Skolars 22 York City Knights 30: York relieved as late Minikin try seals win

James Ford’s promotion-seekers had battled to victory at home to minnows Oxford last week after having a man sent off early on and they had to show similar qualities at New River Stadium to hold off a revitalised Skolars side.

The hosts – in the lower reaches of League One but much-improved since West Yorkshire lad Jermaine Coleman took the reins as player-coach – threatened a shock win after coming from 16-4 down to get to within two points.

But Jack Blagbrough’s tackle on Lamont Bryan forced the ball loose and Minikin combined with man-of-the-match Ed Smith to score a quality counter-attack try.

The centre’s first try had cancelled out Skolars’ early opener scored by Sam Nash, and the visitors seemed to take command with further touchdowns by Ryan Mallinder and Jamel Chisholm – the former Leeds Academy prolific try-scorer who was recalled to the Knights line-up for the first time since March.

But London fought back with tries by Bryan and Dave Williams either side of a Ben Dent penalty at the other end.

Batley loanee Brad Hey seemed to settle York nerves with a try but Skolars immediately struck back through Will Martin, plus Tommy Connick’s third conversion.

It was anybody’s game before Minikin struck again, Dent adding his fourth conversion.

London Skolars: Anthony, Nash, Cook, Price, Paxton, Connick, Coleman, Martin, M. Bishay, Williams, Lovell, Fatouri, Smalls. Substitutes: Robinson, Driver, Cox, Bryan.

York: B. Dent, Morrison, Minikin, Craig, Chisholm, Howden, Presley, Applegarth, P. Smith, Aldous, E. Smith, Tonks, Mallinder. Substitutes: Brining, Hey, Blagbrough, Nicholson.

Referee: T Crashley (RFL).