York City Knights 30 Dewsbury Rams 26: Lead changes several times in derby before Knights finish on top

York City Knights gained their second successive victory of the campaign after arguably being the second-best side for most of the game.

Dewsbury started brightly with Dom Brambani and Tom Wandless moving players like chess pieces around the field and it was no surprise when Luke Menzies powered over from close range to open the scoring.

Austin Buchanan increased the lead for the Rams after a glorious cross-pitch movement, but with 10 minutes of the first half remaining York hit back.

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Chris Thorman strolled across a static defence before a sudden incision followed by a 35-metre sprint resulted in a try.

Four minutes later, York were on level terms after Brett Waller burst through the Rams’ defence to touch down.

A simple move in the 40th minute wrested the advantage back to the Rams as Brambani combined well with Scott Turner in order for Mike Wainwright to score

But, once again, York bounced back to level the scores as Matt Garside showed strength and determination in the tackle to barge through and score.

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Former York player Rob Spicer scored a typical power try after Brambani had again split the home side’s defence.

A quick double score, however, once again turned the advantage back to York.

Anthony Thackeray – on his debut after signing from Widnes – stepped through the defence to release Rhys Clarke for a try before a touch of luck saw Thorman’s kick ricochet back into Lee Waterman’s arms for Ryan Esders to steam in to score.

Aiden Faal reduced the deficit to only two points after intense pressure on the York line, but with Brambani’s kick drifting wide it was Lee Waterman’s penalty on the hooter that ensured York’s victory.

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York City Knights: Bush, Sutton, Ford, Esders, Waterman, Thackeray, Presley, Freer, Lee, Benson, Straugheir, Clarke, Thorman. Substitutes: Barlow, Waller, Garside, Lewis.

Dewsbury Rams: Turner, Wainwright, Cosgrove, Faal, Buchanan, Wandless, Brambani, Hirst, Blake, Menzies, Spicer, Lockwood, P. Walker. Substitutes: Emblem, England, Bibb, Tonks.

Referee: G Stokes (RFL).