For a long time at Halifax’s temporary home of Bartercard Odsal it looked as if the winning run would end at the 13th time of asking.
However, from trailing 6-0 to a fired-up Panthers, the visitors scored 19 points in the final 21 minutes to record an 11th successive victory in the Betfred Championship and their 13th in all competitions.
It was a win that came at a cost, however, as scrum half Liam Harris was helped off the pitch late on with what could be a serious leg injury – he will be scanned – while hooker Sam Cook also limped off.
But if it seemed a comfortable triumph in the end, for long periods it did not look like being that way, and that was down in equal measure to Halifax’s stern defence and imperfections in York’s attacks.
Trailing to a 17th-minute Charlie Graham try and a 28th-minute George Whitby goal, it looked as if York would never score.
But Ben Jones-Bishop’s breakaway try just inside the hour was added to by late tries from Paul McShane (66) and Jones-Bishop (72) again, Harris knocking over all three conversions before Will Dagger finished Halifax off with a 76th-minute drop goal.
But as the Panthers fans in a crowd of 1,228 started to make their way to the exits, it was fitting that they had the last word with a try by James Saltonstall that was improved by Whitby.
Table-topping York brought Jesse Dee into the second row, and promoted prop Mitch Clark from the interchange bench for Ukuma Ta’ai, who came off in the 17th minute last week against Barrow.
The Panthers flag on the opposite side of the ground to the main stand is impressive in length, and it was matched by the performance of their side for virtually an hour.
York were almost over via Dee in third minute and forced a goal-line drop-out, while centre Kieran Buchanan was stopped a few metres out two minutes later after neat link play between McShane, Jordan Thompson and Harris.
Halifax did little wrong in the first half, although their defence got away with letting a Harris kick bounce in the sixth minute.
The Knights were close to the line in ninth minute, but a penalty for ball stealing gave Halifax the initiative and they forced a goal-line drop-out of their own two minutes later.
The home side almost went over in the 13th minute, winger Saltonstall either being forced into touch or knocking on in trying to ground the ball, but the reprieve was brief.
Three minutes later a superb offload by full back David Nofoaluma, with four players trying to tackle him, gave Ben Crooks the chance to put Graham over, and he obliged, Whitby missing the pot at goal.
Halifax were up for the fight and their defence continued to defy York in a game of few chances, keeping them out for three successive sets before Whitby made it 6-0 with an easy penalty after the visitors were offside.
McShane, stand-off Dagger and Harris continued to probe without success, and York’s best chance of a first-half try came a minute before the interval, Harris’ cross-kick being collected by Dagger only for his pass inside to be knocked on.
The question at half-time was: Could Halifax sustain their defensive effort?
And for almost 20 minutes the answer was yes – for example when Knights loose forward Thompson was wrapped up when they were in a prime attacking position.
Both sides then coughed up possession near the York line before the game-changing moment arrived in the 59th minute.
A sublime short pass by Cook put Jones-Bishop in the clear near halfway and he ran 50 metres to score, Harris’ goal tying the scores at 6-6.
Seven minutes later York took the lead, hooker McShane, who had only just come back on, scoring from close range, Harris’ easy kick making it 12-6.
As the floodlights began to take hold, Graham was shoved into touch near the York line on Halifax’s right in the 70th minute, but two minutes later the visitors were away and clear.
Jones-Bishop got his second try, this time from an offload by Brenden Santi, Harris making it 18-6 from the kicking tee.
Harris and Cook then went off injured, but Dagger rubbed more salt into Halifax wounds with a drop goal four minutes from time.
But, after all their endeavours, it was appropriate that the Panthers scored the final points, with Saltonstall’s try seconds before the hooter being improved by Whitby.
It was revenge for Halifax winning 18-10 at the LNER Community Stadium in round three in what was York’s third straight defeat. The leaders are a different team nowadays though.
Halifax: Nofoaluma; Graham, Crooks, Sambou, Saltonstall; Jouffrett, Whitby; Douglas, O’Brien, Calcott, McComb, Tangata, Davies. Interchange: Fairbank, Inman, Cowen, Halafihi.
York: Mata’afa; Jones-Bishop, Buchanan, Field, Galeano; Dagger, Harris; Martin, McShane, Clark, Dee, Bailey, Thompson. Interchange: Cook, Santi, Fitzsimmons, Hudson.
Referee: Matthew Lynn.
Attendance: 1,228
- Apologies for the recent disrupt in service with the York Knights coverage. This is partly due to staffing issues, and we hope that normal service will resume shortly so that we can return to producing the needed high standard content for the club.
