Whitehaven did it tough to secure a superb win with 14 men at Dewsbury last week.
But today they found it tough at home to a vastly improved York side and they conceded 20 points in each half without response to go under 40-0.
Coach Kyle Amor was able to name four substitutes this week but they couldn’t find the same performance, admittedly against a much better side than Dewsbury.
It took York only three minutes to open their scoring and it was former Haven half-back Nikau Williams who completed the move by sliding over under the Whitehaven posts. It was his 100th game in British rugby league but he missed with the conversion attempt.
But he was on target four minute later with a simple penalty after a high tackle on AJ Towse.
Whitehaven tried hard to stay in the contest but couldn’t break a resolute York defence and on 29 minutes the Knights scored their second try. Ata Hingano chipped for the corner where Brad Ward won the tap down and Joe Law was following up to touchdown.
Five minutes later they scored again. This time it was brilliant play from Law who jinked past several home defenders to touchdown.
Three minutes before half-time York were in again and the Whitehaven defence had gone missing when Williams slipped through for his second try, and this time put over his second conversion.
It was already looking like a stiff task now for Haven and within two minutes of the re-start it got a whole lot worse. York went in again and this time it was Santi who was able to force his way through the Haven defenders on the line. Williams converted.
Whitehaven had a good spell but they kept at distance, stopped nine metres out before losing the ball and then a bit further back when Huw Worthington was bundled into touch.
On 66 minutes when York had a spell of possession they were awarded a penalty for a high shot and Williams popped it over.
Five minutes later Jack Martin went over from close range and Williams converted, with the final Knights try coming almost on the final hooter through Hingano, this time converted by Will Jubb.
The defeat hasn’t changed the bottom four as they all lost. Dewsbury are already down and it’s between Swinton, Whitehaven and Barrow aa to who joins them.
