Whitehaven came from behind to beat York City Knights 26-24 at the LEL Arena after the visitors missed a conversion a minute from the end.
In a cracking Betfred Championship clash Whitehaven had been 10-0 behind inside nine minutes but by half-time the home side had established a 16-10 lead.
Although York pulled back level early in the second half, and both sides ended with five tries apiece, it was the extra goal from Josh Rourke which clinched the win for Jonty Gorley’s men.
It was always a hard-fought game, despite the fact that both sides had played on Sunday, and each face tough game on Sunday – three games in eight days is always a severe test for part time clubs.
York, though, had looked lively early on and it was Whitehaven who looked to be still on a bus, not their visitors.
The Knights had taken the lead after only five minutes when Ata Hingano chipped the ball to the left in behind Dave Eccleston and AJ Towse won the chase to touch down in the corner.
Five minutes later they were in again this time after Harris had ghosted through the Haven defence to put Danny Kirmond over for the second try which Myles Harrison converted.
When Whitehaven were awarded the game’s first penalty after 15 minutes they profited, creating the opening for Ryan King to make the line and touchdown.
That galvanised the home side and after a period of pressure Jamie Doran set up Dion Aiye to power over for the try with Rourke’s conversion putting them level.
When York eventually did respond Joe Brown was pulled down a couple of metres short of the Haven line and the same player wasted a good opportunity by knocking-on.
As the half came to a close it was Whitehaven who called the shot and after good play between Jake Carter and Aiye it was Rourke who went in for his ninth try of the season which he converted seven minutes from the break.
York needed a good start to the second-half and they were level after 50 minutes when Brenden Santi drove powerfully past three tacklers to score a try, with Harrison’s conversion pulling them level.
There followed some great line defence by Whitehaven as York piled on the pressure and they held firm.
It took until the 64th minute for Haven to get back in front. Doran supplied the perfect pass for Curtis Teare to burst onto at the right angle and he powered through with Rourke adding the conversion.
Back came York and five minutes later they scored again with Towse grabbing his second when the Knights went down the short side and Josh Daley fired out a superb pass for the winger to get in at the corner. Harrison couldn’t convert.
In a grandstand finish Whitehaven scored again on 74 minutes when 18-year-old Oscar Doran got the ball down in the corner for his first senior try. Rourke couldn’t convert.
Back came York and a magical break by Harris split the Whitehaven defence before Oli Pratt scored in the corner. It all rested on Harrison’s conversion attempt but he put it wide.
