York Knights find the desire against St Helens to leave Mark Applegarth full of pride
MARK APPLEGARTH expressed his pride in York Knights after Oli Field’s double further dented St Helens’ play-off hopes in a thrilling 34-32 victory at the LNER Community Stadium.
Saints got off to the perfect start when Jack Welsby kicked through to allow Jake Davies to touch down, with Jackson Hastings adding the conversion.
York hit back almost immediately when Toa Mata’Afa put Jon Bennison over in the corner, and although he was unable to convert his own score, he was successful after Field capitalised on Cody Hunter’s well-time pass with a neat step to make it 10-6.
The lead proved short-lived when Hunter was unable to claim Hastings’ up and under and Shane Wright pounced to score a converted try, and the visitors surged further head when Welsby burst through Denive Balmforth’s tackle after the fleet-footed Harry Robertson had raced down the right wing.
However, Balmforth swiftly made amends with a sniping finish and Bennison levelled it up at 16-16 at the break.
The Knights were temporarily reduced to 12 when Ata Hingana was sent to the bin for a high tackle on Davies, but it was they who regained the lead with 53 minutes gone when prop Paul Vaughan barged his way over and Bennison added the extra points.
They went 12 points ahead after Saints failed to deal with Hunter’s lofted kick, Nikau Williams touching down and Bennison making it 28-16, but Robertson’s brilliance allowed Tristan Sailor to feed Welsby to complete a length-of-the-field move which was converted by Hastings.
Field’s second try and a fifth successful Bennison conversion gave the Knights breathing space, but late scores from Robertson and Jacob Douglas handed Sailor, deputising for the injured Hastings, a chance to tie it up from the touchline, although it was one he could not take.
Delighted York head coach Applegarth said: “You know when you play St Helens you can never write them off and, to be fair, that was the message that we got out there that last five minutes.
“I’m so proud of them. I’ve been feeling for this last couple of weeks that we showed a bit of a soft side to us in terms of our rucks and our desire, but to go and get that win, I thought we showed it in abundance today.”
Opposite number Eamon O’Carroll said: “Look, I’m proud, the same as I was last week, a little bit frustrated as well.
“We clearly didn’t give up, but we really lacked some execution at critical times during the game which let us down. But some great learnings in there for what’s a relatively young group.”