YORK KNIGHTS 19 HULL KR 18
DAVE CRAVEN, LNER Community Stadium, Thursday

IT has been 40 years since York last played in the top-flight and, after such a long wait, it would have been easy to suffer stage fright.

But from the moment they entered the fray to Metallica’s suitably rousing Enter Sandman, they looked ready. And more than able.

In the end, in their first-ever game in Super League, Mark Applegarth’s heroic side produced probably the biggest result in the competition’s 30-year history.

Ice-cool Ata Hingano slotted a 76th minute drop-goal to stun treble-winning Hull KR and send the bulk of a sold-out crowd into ecstasy.

Rovers face NRL premiers Brisbane Broncos next Thursday, bidding for the World Club Challenge crown – but York, part-timers just a few months ago, are on top of the world right now.

KR must have thought they would ease home when Sauaso Sue went over untouched to put his side 18-6 ahead on 55 minutes.

York, who had tackled ferociously from the off, looked like they’d inevitably tire.

But then Rovers’ England star Mikey Lewis came up with a moment of madness, needlessly and petulantly tripping Liam Harris as the York captain kicked downfield.

He was yellow-carded and it gave the hosts a sniff.

Scrum-half Harris showed real class putting Sam Wood stretching over for his second try in the 65th minute.

Harris improved and did so again after Hingano’s superb grubber caused chaos, winger Scott Galeano touching down in the 73rd minute.

When Rovers were penalised again – they lost the penalty count 9-2 in the first half – York marched downfield to put Hingano in position to make history. And he didn’t let them down.

Rovers had issues before kick-off, Dean Hadley pulling out of the warm-up with a rib injury That meant 18th man Jack Brown was parachuted straight in as a starting prop.

And moments after kick-off they hit more problems, Jez Litten left grounded and dazed trying to halt hulking York prop Xavier Va’a.

Thankfully for the England hooker, and his side, he passed his HIA to return to the field.

But York defended three successive sets on their own line and, when Tyrone May had an effort ruled out, the hosts struck first in the 18th minute.

Wood will go down as their first try-scorer in Super League but he had Paul McShane, the brilliant 36-year-old former Castleford Tigers and England hooker, to thank for that piece of history.

It was the ex-Man of Steel’s clever play and pass out of dummy-half that got Wood over.

KR rallied with Rhyse Martin and Arthur Mourgue both going close, only to be denied again by brilliant goalline defence.

However, the Robins did finally break them in the 33rd minute after Litten made a trademark midfield break, Jai Whitbread barging over.

Martin improved but when he hit Justin Sangaré high seconds before the break, Harris levelled things up.

At the start of the second period, Whitbread tried wriggling over for a second try but was penalised for double movement.

But the big Aussie wasn’t denied soon after when angling over from Litten’s pass in the 48th minute, Martin doing the rest.

However, then Lewis pressed self-destruct.

GAMESTAR: At 36 years old, wily hooker Paul McShane is still going strong and remains so influential.

GAMEBREAKER: Mikey Lewis’ daft yellow card led to Hull KR falling to pieces.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Ata Hingano slotting a dramatic match-winning drop goal in the biggest night in the club’s history – and just cooly trotting back for the restart like he was finishing off a training session.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Paul McShane (York)
2 pts Jez Litten (Hull KR)
1 pt Ata Hingano (York)

MATCHFACTS

KNIGHTS
1 Toa Mata’afa
2 Ben Jones-Bishop
26 Nikau Williams
4 Sam Wood
5 Scott Galeano
6 Ata Hingano
7 Liam Harris
15 Xavier Va’a
9 Paul McShane
10 Paul Vaughan
20 Oli Field
12 Jesse Dee
13 Jordan Thompson
Subs (all used)
14 Denive Balmforth
8 Jack Martin
16 Justin Sangaré
11 Josh Griffin
18th man (not used)
31 King Vuniyayawa
Also in 21-man squad
19 Danny Richardson
21 Kieran Buchanan
25 Jack Smith

Tries: Wood (18, 65), Galeano (73)
Goals: Harris 3/4
Field-goals: Hingano (76)

HULL KR
1 Arthur Mourgue
2 Tom Davies
3 Peta Hiku
4 Oliver Gildart
5 Joe Burgess
6 Mikey Lewis
7 Tyrone May
8 Sauaso Sue
9 Jez Litten
18 Jack Brown
17 Rhyse Martin
12 James Batchelor
13 Elliot Minchella
Subs (all used)
14 Jack Broadbent
15 Sam Luckley
16 Jai Whitbread
19 Karl Lawton
18th man (not used)
21 Noah Booth
Also in 21-man squad
11 Dean Hadley
22 Bill Leyland
29 Tom Whitehead

Tries: Whitbread (33, 48), Sue (55)
Goals: Martin 3/3
Sin bin: Lewis (61) – trip

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-6, 6-6; 6-12, 6-18, 12-18, 18-18, 19-18

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Knights: Paul McShane; Hull KR: Jez Litten

Penalty count: 13-5
Half-time: 6-6
Referee: Liam Rush