York City Knights 18 Halifax 24: Penkywicz’s late try makes sure Halifax prevail against Knights

Penkywicz struck to end the hopes of a York City Knights side who must have thought they had done enough to secure a share of the spoils.

For Harrison’s visitors, a draw would have been the very least they deserved after dominating for significant periods of time – and making a handful of line breaks – without being clinical enough to finish the game as a contest.

The visitors turned the screw early on and finally made it count when Paul Handforth stabbed a kick towards the in-goal. The Knights’ defence dawdled and Ben Heaton nipped in for the opening try.

Lee Paterson, kicking in place of the injured Steve Tyrer, slotted over the conversion for a 6-0 lead that became 12-0 within two minutes when Anthony Thackeray and Dane Manning sent Heaton powering in.

Against the run of play, York scored when prop Chris Green twisted over by the side of the posts.

Just before the break, Chris Thorman’s kick into the in-goal was fielded – and then inexplicably left behind – by substitute Luke Ambler and York hooker Jack Lee pounced.

Thorman kicked the conversion to level at 12-12, but the visitors’ response was instant, Thackeray sending Manning through on the right with a perfect short pass.

Paterson kicked Fax 18-12 ahead with the last play of the half.

Halifax continued to press after the break but could not find the score they need to kill the contest and Fieldhouse stopped Thorman one-on-one at the other end as the gaps started to appear in both defences.

Alex Benson then twisted over after finding himself one-on-one with young substitute Anthony Bowman by the posts.

Thorman levelled at 18-18, prompting Handforth to try a drop-goal at the other end which skidded harmlessly under the posts.

With the seconds ticking down to the hooter, Halifax carved one last chance, Bowman storming clear from halfway to put the visitors back on the attack.

When it really mattered, they made it pay, Handforth driving to within inches of the whitewash and Penkywicz doing the rest in trademark fashion.

York City Knights: Hellewell; Bush, Ford, Garside, Sutton; Thorman, Tansey; Sullivan, Lee, Green, Haughey, Smith, Aldous. Substitutes: Turner, Benson, Houston, Broughton.

Halifax: Fieldhouse; White, Paterson, Heaton, Reittie; Handforth, Thackeray; Gannon, Penkywicz, Hesketh, Manning, Robinson, Ashall. Substitutes: Bowman, Chandler, Barlow, Ambler.

Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven).