YORK KNIGHTS 58 HUNSLET 8
EMMA KENNEDY, LNER Community Stadium, Sunday
BEN JONES-BISHOP starred with four tries, whilst Scott Galeano and debutant Toa Mata’afa both bagged doubles as York ran eleven tries past Hunslet in a performance as sizzling as the North Yorkshire sunshine.
Mark Applegarth had played down the sides’ long-standing rivalry ahead of kick-off, but it was still felt in the stands.
With next weekend’s 1895 Cup semi-final against Bradford in mind, the York coach rested several key members of his squad in Joe Brown, Ata Hingano and Connor Bailey, but the Knights were no worse off for it.
Paul McShane effortlessly slotted into the halves, whilst Sam Cook started at hooker and Mata’afa was given a first run out at full-back.
It took just five minutes for the hosts to break the deadlock after Coby Nichol had fumbled Paul McShane’s high hanging kick, Liam Harris throwing a looping cut-out pass for Jones-Bishop to dive in at the right corner.
And the pair combined in similar fashion again just three minutes later, Harris goaling one to put the Knights 10-0 up in as many minutes.
Hunslet hit back through Nichol after a ball strip, but were firmly second best, with Joe Law next to add his name to the scoresheet for the Knights against his former club after some neat footwork on the left edge, Harris again goaling.
Mata’afa, who already looks like a more than handy acquisition from French side FC Lezignan, then collected Jacques O’Neill’s pass and barged over from close range next to the posts, Harris converting.
Hunslet had the final word of the half after an enterprising play saw Mackenzie Scurr bat the ball back in to Lee Gaskell to score on the left edge but they still trailed 22-8.
Having been accused of being complacent at times, the Knights stepped up a gear after the break to score 36 unanswered points as they simply blew Hunslet away.
Jones-Bishop ghosted into the right corner to complete his hat-trick off the back of a Greg Eden error seven minutes after the restart, kickstarting a devastating spell that saw York score a further four times in the 16 minutes that followed.
Harris threw a looping cut-out pass to send Galeano over out wide before getting in on the act himself after characteristically ghosting through the line from 30 metres.
And the Hunslet defence was caught napping as Galeano profited from some fast hands on the left edge between Law and McShane before Mata’afa swatted away attempted tacklers as he dummied his way through out wide.
Harris converted two of the five on an afternoon that saw him notch seven of his attempts.
The loudest cheer of the afternoon rang out as veteran prop Ukuma Ta’ai powered over from close range with six minutes left to play before Jones-Bishop fittingly put the cherry on top with a fine individual try, Harris converting both.
GAMESTAR: Ben Jones-Bishop. Hunslet could not contain the winger as he scored four of York’s 11 tries.
GAMEBREAKER: The Knights racked up 10 points in as many minutes, killing Hunslet hopes early on.
MATCHFACTS
KNIGHTS
36 Toa Mata’afa
34 Ben Jones-Bishop
3 Kieran Buchanan
4 Joe Law
35 Scott Galeano
9 Paul McShane
7 Liam Harris
8 Jack Martin
19 Sam Cook
17 Ukuma Ta’ai
11 Jesse Dee
20 Oli Field
13 Jordan Thompson
Subs (all used)
22 Jacques O’Neill
10 Brenden Santi
16 Jacob Gannon
31 Kieran Hudson
Tries: Jones-Bishop (5, 8, 47, 77), Law (22), Mata’afa (26, 63), Galeano (52, 60), Harris (56), Ta’ai (74)
Goals: Harris 7/11
HUNSLET
16 Greg Eden
21 Coby Nichol
19 Liam Welham
4 Billy Jowitt
2 Mackenzie Scurr
6 Lachlan Hanneghan
38 Lee Gaskell
10 Matty Fletcher
14 Cam Berry
17 Keelan Foster
22 Harrison Gilmore
31 Kevin Larroyer
25 Kobe Rugless
Subs (all used)
8 Harvey Hallas
13 Jordan Syme
26 Ethan O’Hanlon
27 Sam Campbell
Tries: Nichol (12), Gaskell (38)
Goals: Jowitt 0/2
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0, 10-4, 16-4, 22-4, 22-8; 26-8, 30-8, 36-8, 42-8, 46-8, 52-8, 58-8
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Knights: Ben Jones-Bishop; Hunslet: Lee Gaskell
Penalty count: 6-5
Half-time: 22-8
Referee: Aaryn Belafonte