AMID all the hullabaloo at Huntington Stadium last night, a very important rugby league match took place. And what a match it was.

The opening of a new club bar, a girls’ rugby league festival, the first public appearance of the newly-named Mayfair Security Stand, a show by top local cover band Copowt, a 50-strong cheerleading performance, an announcement that the Knights had become the first professional rugby league club to be given the much-lauded ClubMark status, a bumper crowd, hot sunshine, and, of course, the Sky Sports cameras – all the above made it a special occasion and in many respects pointed to a bright future for York City Knights.

But the focal point is always what happens on the pitch, and the massive attendance of 3,106 – plus the thousands watching on the box – were treated to a nail-biting, nervy, horribly tense, yet brilliant, wonderful affair in which the Knights came from 12-0 and 18-10 down to win 20-18 and leapfrog visitors Oldham into second place in Championship One.

And if that wasn’t enough, it even provided a stunning finale, as deep into stoppage-time, Oldham sub Wayne Kerr had a try... after what seemed like an eternity... ruled out by video referee James Child.

As predicted by The Press, the only change to the Knights team that won at Hunslet last time out was the return of Aussie Tom Haberecht for 18-year-old Tom Stancliffe.

Haberecht went back into the centres, with Dave Clayton shifting across to Stancliffe’s wing position.

Haberecht did not have the best start, however, as his winger, Mike Mitchell, failed to gather in his bobbling pass, thus handing Oldham a scrum inside the home half.

Although both Haberecht and Mitchell did excellently thereafter, the visitors took the lead on the back of the error as Neil Roden shaped to pass wide left but stepped inside and the defence opened up.

Then Paul March saw his kick not only charged down but gathered in by Tommy Goulden, who had a clear 40-metre run to the line. Andy Ballard’s two conversions made it 12-0 after 11 minutes.

However, March’s next kick was far better. The Knights got field position after a penalty and good hands gave March space to send in a grubber which caused consternation in the defence, and centre John Oakes pounced. Adam Mitchell missed a kickable conversion.

Then came a try out of nothing. The ball went through several pairs of hands as the Knights surged as one from inside their own half, and Clayton finished superbly in the corner. Mitchell was this time bang on from out wide.

Nevertheless Roden was causing problems with every touch and his delayed pass saw Chris Baines score a converted try in front of the posts for an 18-10 lead.

This York side does not know when it’s beaten, however. Opposite stand-off Adam Mitchell helped them hit back as his well-timed pass saw sub Jordan Ross power through and Haberecht finished well after taking Ross’ early pass.

Ross and Chris Clough were more impressive subs than Sean Hesketh, who had a poor first stint on his home debut with two costly fumbles – though he did better in the second half.

Oldham were without captain Rob Roberts, the former York Wasps and Super League loose-forward, who needs medial ligament surgery, while former Hull KR packman Phil Joseph was left out of the 17 as he had been unable to train this week because of work.

A late change also saw second-row Dave Allen drop out, with ex-Super League star Paul Reilly – a former Huddersfield team-mate of Knights player-coach Paul March who had been down to start as a substitute – coming in at centre, Danny Halliwell switching to the second row.

Former London Skolars back-rower Kerr was a last-minute call-up to the bench.

The difference between the sides at half-time was two missed conversions by Mitchell, though York had a reprieve five minutes after the restart when Oldham full-back Paul O’Connor had a try ruled out by video referee Child.

The stop-start third quarter was punctured in uproarious fashion on the hour mark.

Some superb basketball rugby kept the ball alive on the last tackle and a stray Oldham hand amid it all saw the Knights gain another set of six.

Then Paul Hughes somehow dug and jinked his way to the posts for a superb solo try. Mitchell goaled and, as Huntington Stadium erupted, York had the lead for the first time.

A massive bomb by Mitchell then forced a dropout after a great chase by namesake Mike. But Oldham fought their way back into the game.

They looked set to pile the pressure on, but Oakes made three contenders for tackle of the match. He firstly dragged Marcus St Hilaire into the sand pit on Oldham’s first tackle in the danger zone, then he held the former Super League player dead in his tracks on the try-line, and he was part of a tackle that held Kerr just short – as confirmed by the video ref.

That ruling saw the stadium erupt again, as did the final hooter shortly after.


Match facts

Knights: Ratcliffe 7, M Mitchell 7, Oakes 9, Haberecht 8, Clayton 8, A Mitchell 7, P March 7, Applegarth 7, Hughes 8, Sullivan 7, Kelly 7, Knight 8, D March 7.

Subs (all used): Hodgson 6, Clough 7, Ross 8, Hesketh 6.

Tries: Oakes 16; Clayton 25; Haberecht 39; Hughes 61.

Conversions: A Mitchell 25, 61.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.


Oldham: O’Connor, Ballard, Reilly, St Hilaire, Greenwood, Roden, J Coyle, Highton, Sykes, Robinson, Halliwell, Goulden, Baines.

Subs (all used): Boults, I’Anson, Kerr, T Coyle.

Tries: Roden 7; Goulden 11; Baines 33.

Conversions: Ballard 7, 11, 33.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.


Man of the match: John Oakes – it was going to be Paul Hughes until John Oakes came up with three stunning try-saving tackles in an incredible finale.

Referee: Jamie Leahy (Dewsbury). Video ref: James Child (Dewsbury).

Rating: people with the benefit of the TV replays would know better, but he did okay.

Penalty count: 8-6.

Weather: very warm evening after a hot day.

Half-time: 14-18.

Attendance: 3,106.

Gamebreaker: Not Paul Hughes’ solo try, but John Oakes’ three try-saving tackles at the death, two on Marcus St Hilaire and one on Wayne Kerr.

Moment of the match: It could have been Dave Clayton’s first-half team try, or Paul Hughes’ solo try to win it, but really it was the video ref’s decision in stoppage time to rule out an Oldham winner.

Match rating: well worthy of television coverage with both sides playing open, attacking rugby... and what a finale.