Sheffield Eagles 52 York City Knights 18: York left sweating on Crusaders as 10-try Eagles finish in fourth

The Eagles ran in 10 tries as they leapfrogged Widnes to claim home advantage against the Vikings in the first round of the play-offs.

York finished in the final relegation place but could be reprieved if troubled Crusaders are not allowed to join the Championship next season.

Eagles’ fast passing moves dragged Knights defenders out of position.

Teenager Corey Hanson brought his try total to 12 this season with a double and Menzie Yere helped himself to a hat-trick after coming off the bench.

Full-back Quentin Laulu-Togage’s try put the Eagles ahead but the impressive Tom Bush – playing his first game at half-back – brought York level.

It didn’t last as tries from Joe Hirst and Alex Szostak restored Eagles’ lead and Simon Brown kicked two goals.

A minute before half-time Hanson’s 50-metre break made the lead 20-6.

Misi Taulapapa’s try extended the lead after the restart and it was all over with three tries in seven minutes approaching the final 20 minutes.

Yere got the first two and, after Hanson had claimed his second, the Papua New Guinea international completed his hat-trick.

Prop Stringer’s try took Sheffield past the 50 points mark and Bergin, who had taken over the goal kicking after Brown was injured, kicked four from seven.

In the final minutes Bush and Matt Garside got consolation tries with Chris Thorman kicking the goals.

Sheffield Eagles: Laulu-Togagae; Finigan, Taulapapa, Hanson, Bergin; McDonald, Brown; Howieson, Henderson, Stringer, Szostak, Green, Hirst. Substitutes: Yere, Smith, Scott, Hepworth.

York City Knights: Haynes; Tuffour, Esders, Ford, Sutton; Bush, Thorman; Benson, Lee, Freer, Clarke Garside, Lewis. Substitutes: Smith, Presley, Jones, Waller.

Referee: C Leatherbarrow (RFL).

Workington had to settle for a third-place finish in Co-operative Championship 1 after a narrow 24-20 defeat to Oldham at Derwent Park.