IT was clear after only eight minutes of the Challenge Cup third-round tie against Wigan St Patrick’s that player-boss Paul March had been right to say it was no gamble to play a much-changed team.

The Knights by then had crossed three times for a lead that few amateur teams could hope to make back against semi-professional opposition, and one which merely grew whenever the Knights decided to cut out complacency and play properly.

The final 50-10 scoreline was a tad harsh on the National Conference club, but it underlined the Knights’ supremacy – as well as a confidence which was not affected by the six changes to the side that had thrashed London Skolars seven days earlier.

Indeed, one replacement, Adam Mitchell – who had come in for March himself and wants to regain a regular starting place – was instrumental in gaining that early lead.

In the first minute, his perfect cross-field chip to the corner isolated St Pat’s winger Sean O’Neill and saw Wayne McHugh catch and touch down.

Then Mitchell’s fine pass created a huge gap for half-back partner Danny Grimshaw to stroll home, and the stand-off was again involved down the left as John Oakes scored.

Mitchell also ended with five conversions – though he hit the post with one simple kick – and he scored a superb second-half try, getting the ball back on the run-around, handing off the full-back down the left flank and showing decent pace to the line.

St Pat’s weren’t helped when scrum-half Anthony Atherton was sin-binned on 16 minutes for a professional foul, slowing down the play-the-ball after Oakes had intercepted and set up a try-scoring chance 15 yards from the line.

Atherton was still traipsing off as Scott Woodcock – who would have known St Pat’s from his days as a Thornhill amateur – trudged over the try-line with men on his back.

The big Woodcock, obviously very effective at National Conference level but still making his way in the semi-pro game, was a handful throughout.

It was his prop partner, Chris Clough, who crossed next, from Paul Hughes’ pass. Clough, too, had been a handful, albeit in a different way, with quicker feet and an eye for an offload.

That said, he was hauled off late on for straying from the game-plan too starkly – a fault that affected much of the Knights’ play after they had built a 26-0 lead with a quarter of the game gone.

While a cricket score had looked possible, the floodgates closed as the Knights got sloppy, not helped by a brief downpour but more by apparent over-confidence, laziness and a reduction in teamwork with the game already won.

St Pat’s had hitherto passed the ball well on occasions, but only sideways and they found no gaps in the defence, coming closest to creating something when second-row Richard Owen, a tower of strength all day, instigated an attack which saw a try ruled out for a knock-on.

But they did get reward just before the hooter, as left-centre Steven Bennett picked off a poor glory pass by Grimshaw – one example of the Knights’ complacency – and sprinted home untouched. Ian Schofield converted.

They got another boost two minutes into the second half, as inexperienced referee Tony Mahar sin-binned the unfortunate David March for a supposed dangerous – but seemingly innocuous – tackle.

Nevertheless, the Knights scored thrice while down to 12 men to underline their superiority.

Grimshaw’s clever little dabbed kick saw Dave Clayton touch down, Mitchell then got his try, and, just before the team were back up to 13, a break and well-timed pass by Adam Jones gave Oakes his second try. Teenage threequarter Jones had a solid debut, not looking at all out of place.

Tom Hodgson – on at loose- forward for March, who did not reappear after his yellow card – dummied in, before St Pat’s scored a fine try, creating space for winger Schofield to break down the right before kicking ahead, with his centre, Damien Charnock, beating two team-mates to the touchdown.

Arguably of more interest to York fans, though, was seeing Clough hauled off with ten minutes to go, moments after taking it upon himself to chip ahead.

The feisty prop was clearly frustrated at the decision, as well as his poor kick, but coaches James Ratcliffe and Paul March were obviously making a point that their players should not stray from the game-plan towards individualism.

Clough nearly stormed down the tunnel, but was calmed by old head David March.

Woodcock, his replacement, continued to make an impression, but it was another forward, Rob Kelly, who completed the scoring with a rare try, a good finish from ten metres. The conversion brought up the half-century.


Match facts

Knights 50, Wigan St Patrick’s 10

Knights: Clayton 6, McHugh 6, Oakes 8, M Mitchell 6, Jones 6, A Mitchell 8, Grimshaw 6, Woodcock 8, Hughes 7, Clough 7, Kelly 6, Knight 6, D March 6.

Subs (all used): Hodgson 6, Ekis 5, Applegarth 7, Jack Stearman 6.

Tries: McHugh 1; Grimshaw 5; Oakes 8, 52; Woodcock 17; Clough 20; Clayton 45; A Mitchell 48; Hodgson 58; Kelly 77.

Conversions: A Mitchell 5, 17, 20, 48, 77.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: D March 42.

Sent off: None.


St Patrick’s: Simm, Schofield, Charnock, Bennett, O’Neill, Baxter, Atherton, Peacock, Phillips, Hales, Suffolk, Owen, Daniels.

Subs (all used): Sedgewick, Rayburn, Selby, Gallear.

Tries: Bennett 40; Charnock 64.

Conversions: Schofield 40.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Atherton 16.

Sent off: None.


Man of the match: John Oakes – scored two tries, always made good ground when in possession, was hard to put down, and defended solidly.

Referee: Tony Mahar (Widnes).

Rating: okay – though his interpretation of the ten-metre offside rule was dodgy, he was lenient with St Pat’s lying-on, and his yellow card for David March was controversial to say the least.

Penalty count: 12-7.

Weather: cold and windy, with one brief heavy shower midway through the first half.

Half-time: 26-6.

Attendance: 956.

Gamebreaker: if it wasn’t the first try in the first minute or the second in the fifth, it was the third in the eighth minute that gave St Pat’s little hope of catching up and causing a shock.

Moment of the match: Adam Mitchell’s try was possibly the pick of the ten tries.

Match rating: the opening quarter, in which York showed pace, quality and professionalism to build a 26-0 lead, meant there would be no nervousness as the Knights reached the fourth round in a routine win.