Blackpool Panthers 10 York City Knights 50

Having secured their first win in 40 odd games two weeks ago and a creditable performance at Barrow until the game was abandoned, Panthers were a pale shade of that team and it was the Knights, who had also had a loosing streak who were out of the traps best and scored a try after just 70 seconds and that confidence grew throughout the match.

The first try came on the back of two early blunders by the Panthers. They knocked on at the first play the ball and were soon caught offside, York reaping the benefit as Paul Hughes’ firm pass send Dave Buckley over the whitewash, stand off Danny Ratcliffe booted the first of his two conversions.

Aussie prop Buckley crashed over for a second try on 13 minutes, going from dummy half after good work by hooker Hughes, and York were already on the road to victory. More good work by Hughes and David March, who was superb at loose forward, got the duo on the attack and Oakes overhead pass saw Esders sprint in.

Two further tries ensued in the two minutes before half time. Blackpool got on the board by then with a try by Paul Ashton, the substitute picking up a loose ball to scamper home, Johnny Leather gaoling, but the quick fire brace meant there was no way back for the Panthers.

The March twins saw York start the second half as they had the first, as David’s brilliant off load had Paul running home. Another good run by Ratcliffe killed off Blackpool even more as Panthers prop Danny Barton was sufficiently bamboozled to trip him up in dangerous fashion and earned himself a 51st minute red card.

The hosts did score again as Winger John Gillam touched down a grubber kick to the corner but York finished the game well as David March ran the last tackle of a superb move for full back Mapals to score. Mapals then danced in for a second, Esders too completed a brace after a break by Oakes, and left winger Matt Danville put his centre, Rob Spicer over for their tenth try. Esders’ third goal took the Knights to the half century and completed a miserable return to the Woodlands for the previously victorious Panthers.

Man of the Match – David March - Attendance 256