York City Knights 29 Dewsbury Rams 20: Late Lee try seals York win in tight encounter

With a powerful wind at their backs, York quickly fell behind after early Dewsbury pressure saw Adam O’Brien stretch out from acting half to score.

But the score was quickly pegged back as Jack Latus touched down a Tom Carr kick through for the hosts.

Again within minutes the sides swapped further tries.

A superb cut-out pass from Liam Kent enabled winger Nev Morrison to score on his debut before Karl Pryce’s break resulted in Jamaine Akaidere somehow grounding the ball for the visitors despite being enveloped by defenders and the scores were again level.

Carr’s cross-field kick forced a Rams knock-on 10 metres from their posts with Jack Aldous quickly collecting to drive forward for Lee to dive over from acting half.

But the lead was quickly erased as after Lucas Walshaw was held on his back over the line following an excellent Scott Hale break substitute Tommy Gallagher ran a good line to score for the West Yorkshire side.

With the scores locked at 16-16 as the interval approached it took a last-second indiscretion as the Rams were penalised for a shoulder charge and Simon Brown’s penalty gave York a narrow lead at the break.

Indeed it was Brown’s delicate measured chip nine minutes into the second period that gave Nat Browne what ultimately proved to be perhaps the decisive try as despite Greg Scott touching down four minutes from the hooter Jack Lee’s try in the final minutes ensured the York nerves were calmed.

York City Knights: Carr, Browne, Briscoe, Latus, Morrison, Brown, Nicklas, Bell, Lee, Aldous, Kent, Smith, Potter. Substitutes: Presley, Stenchion, Lyons, Sullivan.

Dewsbury Rams: Morton, Scott, Pryce, Hale, Akaidere, Brown, Goulding, Lillycrop, O’Brien, Spiers, Walshaw, Hepworth, Spicer. Substitutes: Tebb, Gallagher, Azue, Cosgrove

Referee: G Stokes (St Helens).