Knights 58, Skolars 12

In fact, they were poor. Their handling and passing was average at the best of times, they were slow in movement, and they didn’t make up for it in defence.

A sizeable York City Knights victory therefore looked afoot as soon as they took the lead on five minutes and, while it could have been bigger, the 58-12 scoreline was more than enough to send player-boss Paul March’s men through to the knockout stages of the Northern Rail Cup.

It didn’t have to be the best Knights performance, and it wasn’t.

There was a lot of inventive rugby, as has been their wont this season, but at times it looked like a training ground match, with York largely untroubled in defence and – despite scoring 11 tries and coming close several times more – also letting themselves down in attack by occasionally taking it easy or trying to be clever; in other words enjoying themselves a bit too much.

Coaching duo March and James Ratcliffe rang the changes following last week’s first defeat of the season at Batley, with Danny Grimshaw, the Press-sponsored Player of the Month for February, back to partner March at half-back and Mike Mitchell, scorer of three tries in the opening two games, back at centre, with Adam Mitchell and the ill Wayne McHugh making way.

Richard Knight and Tom Haberecht also switched positions, with the latter starting in his preferred second-row role for the first time this year alongside Kris Peacock, who was in for the rested Rob Kelly. Haberecht made a few mistakes in the first half, probably trying too hard to impress – though he did go on to score two classy solo tries.

Chris Clough was also back at prop, with academy graduate Jack Stearman coming onto the bench for his competitive debut. Danny Ekis, out with an eye injury, and Scott Woodcock, below-par at Mount Pleasant, made way.

Clough, with one of his sidesteps, made a brilliant 50-metre break with his first touch, and continued to justify his selection as he and Adam Sullivan set the platform up front.

Local lad Stearman, meanwhile, had a decent impact, though it was a good game in which to made a first-team bow, as shown by his team’s healthy lead when he came on.

In only their second attack, two dummy runners created a huge gap for full-back Danny Ratcliffe to stroll in from March’s well-timed pass.

Then great fast hands from David March saw Mitchell send his winger, Dave Clayton, into the right corner. Knight’s touchline conversion was the best of his seven goals.

The Knights, full of confidence, looked like they could score with every attack, but ironically that possibly prevented them from racking up a bigger lead – as they tried to score with every touch rather than build pressure.

That continued even when the Skolars had Danny Burke sin-binned midway through the half, the victim of his team’s persistent infringing, although the Knights did score while London were down to 12 as Clough and Applegarth – just on for Sullivan – combined superbly to send in Paul Hughes.

A fine three-man tackle, led by David March, had forced a knock-on to set the field position for that try, York’s defence being back up to speed after conceding 40 points last week – although Skolars did not help themselves half the time.

The arrival of Stearman and hooker Tom Hodgson on the field heralded another try. Stearman drove to half-way and Hodgson, with his first touch, picked up from dummy-half and beat three men on a 50-metre sprint, and, although he was caught, great hands by him and Ratcliffe gave Mitchell – who looks a very good signing – a try.

Then Haberecht scored a 40-metre effort, brushing off ex-Knights scrum-half Paul Thorman and dummying past the last man for a 28-0 half-time lead.

London began the second period more enthusiastically, but it was only a matter of time before York scored again, John Oakes finishing a decent move in the left corner seven minutes in.

Paul March then scored down the right, Mitchell having made a 40-metre break and, after London got on the scoreboard, Thorman goaling after expertly sending in Burke, normal service resumed as David March touched down nonchalantly, reaching back over his head when tackled, after taking his brother’s pass.

Ratcliffe missed a sitter after Grimshaw broke down the middle, but within minutes Grimshaw slalomed home himself, and Ratcliffe did likewise down the right to make up for his gaffe.

Haberecht topped those efforts with a 50-metre try in front of the Pop Stand, before a lucky ricochet from Thorman’s kick gave Matt Thomas a second Skolars try.

Match facts

Knights 58, Skolars 12

Knights: Ratcliffe 7, Clayton 6, M Mitchell 7, Knight 7, Oakes 7, Grimshaw 6, P March 7, Clough 8, Hughes 7, Sullivan 8, Peacock 7, Haberecht 6, D March 8.

Subs (all used): Hodgson 7, Applegarth 8, Barrow 6, Jack Stearman 7.

Tries: Ratcliffe 5, 69; Clayton 10; Hughes 23; M Mitchell 33; Haberecht 36, 72; Oakes 47; P March 49; D March 57; Grimshaw 66.

Conversions: Knight 5, 10, 23, 36, 49, 66, 72.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Skolars: Simms, Fountain, Chapman, Bloom, Aggrey, Isles, Thorman, Ellison, Nissen, Williams, Thomas, Burke, Joyce.

Subs (all used): Honor, Hyder, Spencer, Bell.

Tries: Burke 55; Thomas 77.

Conversions: Thorman 55, 77.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Burke 18.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Chris Clough – forceful and troublesome up front, and his first stint in particular alongside Adam Sullivan set the platform for the big win.

Referee: Jamie Leahy (Leeds).

Rating: okay.

Penalty count: 15-8.

Weather: breezy, a bit chilly.

Half-time: 28-0.

Attendance: 1,003.

Gamebreaker: Skolars were pretty much out of the running after York’s second try after ten minutes.

Moment of the match: Tom Haberecht’s second try, streaking clear down the right and classily beating two men in the process, was the pick of the bunch.

Match rating: patches of superb rugby brought a big win which could have been bigger, but it was a bit too easy to be classed as a classic.