Knights 24, Cougars 22

Yesterday, they bravely held on by the skin of their teeth to win a quick return fixture by two points, 24-22, after a similarly nerve-shredding encounter at Huntington Stadium.

It seemed the game was York’s at half-time, after a blistering and ultimately crucial ten-minute spell in which they scored four tries.

But the Cougars – led by the irresistible Lee Mapals – fought back in the final 15 minutes to not only claim a bonus point, but severely threaten taking all three.

In the end it was a penalty by Wayne McHugh, which punctured the Cougars’ late try-scoring surge, that decided the game, and how thankful the stuttering – and in some cases limping – Knights were for it.

Just like at Cougar Park, the contest began nip and tuck, with York probably edging it. But, again like at Cougar Park, Keighley took the lead.

Half-back Danny Jones sent up bombs towards McHugh at every opportunity and, from one, Gavin Duffy out-jumped the winger to score. Jones goaled well.

Another was dropped by McHugh under pressure and, from the scrum, Keighley forced a dropout, when again targeting McHugh’s corner with a kick.

But just like at Cougar Park, York responded well, though this time with not one but four tries.

Paul March, The Press and Championship One Player of the Month, hadn’t started the game too well, but his superb cut-out pass saw sub Chris Clough score easily with his first touch.

Then acting-half Paul Hughes dug over from close range, using the excellent Mark Applegarth as a foil.

Then a gang tackle on winger Mapals forced a dropout in their territory and York took advantage as defenders were sucked in and left-centre Tom Haberecht used the overlap to score.

Two minutes later, a trademark offload from David March got his brother racing downfield and his inside pass saw sub hooker Tom Hodgson score – despite losing his footing just before the line.

The March brothers were again taking command – player-coach Paul was particularly to the fore, with one piece of handling leaving Main Stand spectators gasping as he controlled the ball with his hands behind his back – and all looked good.

The tackle on Mapals, meanwhile, had been met with massive cheers on and off the pitch – no doubt a sign people knew he was a danger, but also perhaps a tactic to disrupt his focus.

It worked in one instance when he knocked-on a poor play-the-ball from Dan Potter, but he remained a livewire throughout and was key in Keighley’s comeback.

The Cougars had deployed the same back line that played the Knights at Easter, including Mapals, Potter and fellow ex-Knight George Rayner, but there were a few changes in the pack, with big Andy Shickell notably being back from injury, and ex-York second-row Neil Lowe being left out following his well-documented attitude issue.

Another ex-Knight, Carl Hughes, brother of York skipper Paul, was out injured, but another, hooker Jamaine Wray, was effective off the bench as usual.

York did not play Danny Ratcliffe and Richard Knight after their returns in the reserves, but key loose-forward David March passed fit, so they were able to field the same 17 that won at Workington, with Rob Kelly and Carl Barrow swapping starting roles in the second row.

The 22-6 interval scoreline justified that selection, but the second half was always likely to be tougher with the wind and showers in York’s faces – and so it proved as the Knights’ performance deteriorated.

Just like at Cougar Park, yesterday’s game had its fair share of errors in the drizzle, especially so in the second half, when the plethora of mistakes contributed to an increase in machismo.

York spent most of it in their own half, needing a combination of eager defence and Keighley errors to keep the scoreboard untroubled.

However, injuries slowly mounted – David March (hamstring) and Dave Clayton (ankle) played through them, but Danny Grimshaw (groin), who was hit-and-miss all day, and Applegarth (knee) couldn’t – and that man Mapals kick-started Keighley’s comeback.

Duffy embarked on a magical kick return from his own 20 metres and Mapals was supporting all the way to finish with pace.

Jones’ conversion cut the deficit to ten points with 15 minutes to go and Keighley in the ascendancy.

York needed experience to shine through, and it came via McHugh. He caught a crossfield kick, and wisely kicked it further forward. He then tackled Duffy and helped drag him into touch, and when David March was fouled in the next set, the winger booted the penalty.

That left Keighley needing 12 points in eight minutes – and, boy, did they come close to getting them.

Mapals somehow wriggled out of three tackles to score in the corner, and, with two minutes left, Wray also touched down against his old club. Jones converted the second but his first effort shaded the far post, giving York victory by inches.

Match facts

Knights: Clayton 7, McHugh 6, M Mitchell 7, Haberecht 7, Oakes 6, Grimshaw 6, P March 8, Applegarth 8, P Hughes 7, Sullivan 7, Kelly 7, Ross 7, D March 7. Subs (all used): Hodgson 6, Clough 8, Barrow 6, Woodcock 6.

Tries: Clough 24; Hughes 28; Haberecht 32; Hodgson 34.

Conversions: McHugh 24, 28, 34.

Penalties: McHugh 72.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Keighley: Rayner, Mapals, Potter, Williams, Duffy, Presley, Jones, Shickell, Feather, Law, Cartledge, Purseglove, Nicholson. Subs (all used): Wray, Sagar, Bissell, Brown.

Tries: Duffy 15; Mapals 65, 74; Wray 78.

Conversions: Jones 15, 65, 78.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Chris Clough – made big impression against former club, always being a handful in centre-field, and has seemingly cut out the forced offloads that blighted his early appearances.

Referee: Peter Brooke (Manchester). Rating: okay.

Penalty count: 8-8.

Weather: grey skies, cold wind and showers. Seems summer has been and gone.

Half-time: 22-6.

Attendance: 939.

Gamebreaker: there were a few – York’s ten-minute four-try salvo, Wayne McHugh’s penalty, and Keighley’s touchline conversion that went narrowly wide.

Moment of the match: the final hooter brought joy and relief in equal measure.

Match rating: far too many handling errors for the coaches’ liking, but a thrilling, nailbiting game nonetheless between two sides who are quickly building a keen rivalry.

Match pictures>>