York 50 Hemel Stags 10: Brining quick off the mark in Knights victory

There were only two minutes played when Kriss Brining showed his explosive pace from acting half with Pat Smith taking the offload to open the scoring. Half-back partner Jonny Presley’s kick then prised open the Stags defence for Jordan Howden to ghost through and score.

Hemel were struggling with the pace of the game and Presley again opened the defence for Ben Dent to touch down.

However, the Stags hit back as Jy-mel Coleman intercepted Pat Smith’s pass close to his own line and released Alex Anthony to score.

But further tries before the break, Brining darted over before Dent added his second after Michael Brown failed to collect a high pass, ensured York’s command of the game.

Charlie Lawrence capitalised after pressure on the York line to push through and touch down but quick hands from Presley and Howden saw Nev Morrision score before Brad Nicholson finished off another Brining break.

A drive from Jack Aldous had defenders hanging off his body as he aimed for the posts and from acting half Brining forced his way over the line. With the final move of the game Nicholson’s strength proved too great for a tired defence and the huge prop stretched out to plant the ball firmly over the whitewash.

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

Hemel Stags: Olpherts, McNamara, Brown, Crowther, Anthony, Lawrence, Coleman, Lloyd-Jones, Helliwell, Ross, Mbaraga, Chester, Ljazouli.Substitutes: Cousnie, Sadler, O’Callaghan, Murol.

Referee: T Hudson (RFL).