2 weeks Ago
"I THINK it's one of the only times I've lost a game by 40 points and felt proud of it!" So said York Knights boss Mark Applegarth as his side bowed out of the Challenge Cup following a 44-2 defeat at home to Super League Grand Finalists Hull KR. The Knights could hold their heads high after a gutsy performance that saw them go toe to toe with one of the best teams in the country for the opening quarter, only for their full-time opponents to show their class against a tiring defence to widen the scoreline late on. Debutant Rhyse Martin scored twice and kicked six goals and fellow new recruit Tom Davies also crossed the whitewash for Willie Peters' Robins.
Man of Steel Mikey Lewis was also at the double against the side for whom he enjoyed a prolific loan spell in 2021. “I thought Hull KR showed their class, especially in that second half when we started getting a little bit too tired," said Applegarth, bursting with pride at his side's efforts in front of a club record crowd, a figure yet to be announced. “But I thought for 25 or 30 minutes, we competed really well, and we grew into the game.
“Then when Hull KR brought their bench on – especially Jez Litten – they just injected a bit of pace around the ruck. We struggled to get people back onside and with players like Mikey Lewis and Tyrone May playing off the back of that, it puts your defence under a lot of pressure. “I think that’s what probably undid us as we got tired, players like that pulling the trigger, it gets to you, doesn’t it?" It was the Knights who struck first at a cold, wet and windy LNER Community Stadium, the returning Will Dagger slotting over a penalty from 20 metres in the sixth minute after a coming-together between hookers Paul McShane and Michael McIlorum.
And the hosts largely matched their opponents - whose performance was not without its mistakes - until the 21st minute when Lewis dummied his way over out wide. Martin then escaped the clutches of both Kieran Buchanan and Joe Brown to crawl over the line before Peta Hiku strolled over unopposed on the opposite edge. The introduction of hooker Jez Litten though kicked things up a gear for KR, and against a visibly tiring Knights defence, the visitors pulled away after the break.
Davies met Hiku's flat pass on the overlap to score out wide, before Myles Harrison thought he had pulled York back into the game, only for referee Chris Kendall to spot a knock-on in the build-up. They were soon made to pay again, Martin surging across after the returning Connor Bailey had jumped out of the defensive line, before Litten and Niall Evalds combined in a long-range effort. The interchange hooker was again involved as Lewis scored his second before Tyrone May put through substitute Kelepi Tanginoa with five minutes remaining to complete the scoring.
But the Knights' willingness to fight until the end can only stand them in good stead ahead of their Championship opener at Oldham next Sunday - with their performance against KR likely good enough to see off most second-tier sides. “It’s a really good leveller for us going into next weekend," Applegarth continued. "There were some really good lessons for us to learn in terms of our defensive systems.
“I think it showed the importance of when you get tired, sticking to your systems and not trying to break them and solve it by yourself. “There’s some really good lessons for us to take into next week against Oldham. “I think it’s one of the only times that I’ve lost a game by 40 points and felt proud after it! I thought it was a great occasion for the city, international players rolling into town from KR, but from my own personal point of view, I thought it was a really good lesson for us as a team.
“All we ask from anyone is for their commitment to the end, and I thought every single player showed that.".
