Match Reports

Brave Knights fall to Wolfpack

Sunday 3rd February -

Published: 6 February, 2019 - 6:24 pm

York City Knights produced a monumental defensive effort against competition favourites Toronto Wolfpack, but it wasn’t quite enough as they fell to a 0-14 defeat at a freezing Bootham Crescent on the opening day of the 2019 Betfred Championship season. The Knights rarely looked like scoring but kept damages to a minimum until the closing stages, with Gary Wheeler the only try scorer in the first 69 minutes. Matty Russell crossed to double the visitors’ advantage – albeit contentiously as he finished off a move that looked to have contained a forward pass – and Joe Mellor finished the job... ...Read The Article

Morale-boosting win for York City Knights over Dewsbury Rams

Saturday 19th January - Pre-Season

Published: 30 January, 2019 - 4:00 pm

By Peter Martini for YorkPress.com York  City Knights notched a morale-boosting win in their final pre-season outing prior to their return to the Championship – dismissing Dewsbury Rams with a 34-0 victory at Bootham Crescent. The League One champions scored three tries in the first half and four in the second – some of them crackers – and, perhaps most pleasingly, kept the Rams to zero throughout. However, head coach James Ford was far from getting carried away, especially given the visitors were missing a number of first-teamers. The challenge to be posed next time out – by full-timers and title... ...Read The Article

Positives for York City Knights despite Yorkshire Cup semi-final loss at Batley Bulldogs

Sunday 13th January - Pre-Season

Published: 30 January, 2019 - 3:35 pm

By Peter Martini for YorkPress.com Luckless York City Knights lost their Yorkshire Cup semi-final at Batley Bulldogs but the positives outweighed the negatives in the build-up to their Championship campaign. The Knights went to the inappropriately named Mount Pleasant shorn of half a dozen players and, taking on Championship old-hands at near full-strength on their infamous sloping pitch, only succumbed 22-18 to a try three minutes from time having seen sub Reece Rushworth sin-binned two minutes earlier. York – aided by two super tries – had built an 18-0 lead but that advantage seemed slight given the fact they would... ...Read The Article

Knights Progress after Parkside test

Saturday 5th January - Pre-Season

Published: 7 January, 2019 - 3:58 pm

York City Knights progressed to the semi-finals of the Yorkshire Cup with an encouraging 34-4 victory over Hunslet Club Parkside on Saturday, as the 2019 pre-season schedule steps up a level. The Knights paid Parkside the respect of fielding a strong team and were too fast and strong overall, but the National Conference League Premier Division Champions – who went undefeated throughout 2018 – matched them for enthusiasm and effort and it was a tougher game than the scoreline suggests. Experienced heads Ben Cockayne and Graeme Horne made their first appearances of pre-season, while Captain Tim Spears will wait another... ...Read The Article

Knights enjoy Festive blow out at Bradford

Wednesday 26th December - Pre-Season

Published: 30 December, 2018 - 3:02 pm

By Peter Martini for YorkPress.com Bradford Bulls gained some sort of revenge for losing out on the 2018 League One crown – but their victory didn’t overly tarnish York City Knights’ New Year. York boss James Ford had suggested that a substandard show in this first outing of pre-season could leave his squad “miserable for the rest of our Christmas period” but, aside the 20-12 defeat, he would have left reasonably pleased with his players’ contribution. York had pipped Bradford to the third-tier title in September, a stunning 30-28 victory at Odsal in July being key to that success. Seemingly... ...Read The Article

Knights crowned Champions after Whitehaven win

Sunday 23rd September - League 1

Published: 24 September, 2018 - 4:00 pm

York City Knights were crowned Betfred League 1 Champions at a bouncing Bootham Crescent yesterday, after sealing an unforgettable 15th consecutive victory against a resolute Whitehaven under the autumn sunshine. The Knights needed a win on the last day of the season to stay above favourites Bradford Bulls and seal automatic promotion to the 2019 Betfred Championship, as the thrilling League 1 title race went down to the wire. Head Coach James Ford brought back a number of players who sat out last week’s relatively comfortable victory at Hemel Stags, with Joe Batchelor, Sam Scott and Joel Edwards all returning... ...Read The Article

Knights dispatch Stags as title race goes down to the wire

Sunday 16th September - League 1

Published: 18 September, 2018 - 6:28 pm

York City Knights recorded an incredible fourteenth consecutive Betfred League 1 victory at Hemel Stags on Sunday, leaving them tantalisingly close to being crowned Champions. Head Coach James Ford made six changes to the 17 that earned tough victories at Workington and at home to Oldham, with Andy Ellis, Joe Batchelor, Joel Edwards, Sam Scott, Will Oakes and Adam Robinson all making way for fresh legs in Will Jubb, Perry Whiteley, Jack Ormondroyd, Mike Kelly, Matt Chilton, and prop Dan Hawksworth respectively. Former Knights Austin Bell, Paul Stamp and Mark Barlow all featured for the Stags. York got off to a... ...Read The Article

Roses thriller as Knights edge out Oldham

Sunday 9th September - League 1

Published: 9 September, 2018 - 6:30 pm

York City Knights extended their club record consecutive winning run to 13 games at Bootham Crescent on Sunday – but were made to work incredibly hard for it against a quality Oldham side. The hard fought 10-6 victory was enough to keep the Knights at the top of Betfred League 1 after 24 rounds and on course for automatic promotion with just two ‘cup finals’ remaining in this thrilling season. Head Coach James Ford named the same 17 that won at Workington last Sunday – the first time in 2018 that the Knights have fielded an unchanged line up. After... ...Read The Article

Knights grind out crucial win at Workington

Sunday 2nd September - League 1

Published: 3 September, 2018 - 1:31 pm

York City Knights took one huge step closer to the Betfred League 1 title after a phenomenal defensive performance secured a thrilling 14-18 victory in torrential rain at Workington, and the Knights first win in Cumbria since 2009. James Ford made two changes from the team that convincingly beat Hunslet at Bootham Crescent two weeks ago, with prop Ronan Dixon and hooker Andy Ellis coming in for Jack Ormondroyd and Will Jubb respectively. The mid-season break for the squad ultimately paid dividends in this intensely physical encounter against the in-form Cumbrians, who won at Bradford last time out. A series... ...Read The Article

Awesome Knights go top after hammering Hunslet!

Sunday 19th August - League 1

Published: 19 August, 2018 - 9:59 pm

York City Knights produced another outstanding performance at Bootham Crescent to beat old rivals Hunslet 48-6 and return to the top of the Betfred League 1 table with just four rounds remaining. It was the Knights’ eleventh consecutive victory and saw James Ford’s mean leapfrog Bradford Bulls at the summit, following their 18-24 defeat to Workington Town at Odsal. Ford made three changes to the team that earned a world record away victory at West Wales last weekend; dual registered stars Will Oakes and Matty Marsh returned to the team, along with captain Tim Spears. The tone was set straight... ...Read The Article