YORK CITY KNIGHTS 58

GLOUCESTERSHIRE ALL GOLDS 14

York City Knights progressed to their first ever knockout cup final with a comfortable 58-14 win over the All Golds thanks to a devastating second half showing.

After conceding early tries, the All Golds were well in the game midway throughthe first half but conceded three late scores and after holding on for the early part of the second period were brushed aside as the home side ran in a total of 12 tries.

Had Danny Nicklas’ goalkicking been more assured – he missed seven of his dozen attempts – the scoreline would have been even more emphatic.

With halfbacks Matt Bradley and James Rowland ruled ineligible, coach Lee Greenwood reverted to the side that got them to the semi final while York, unbeaten in the league this season, made three changes from the side that struggled against the Scorpions last week.

The visitors got off to the worst possible start as Lamont Bryan misjudged the bounce of the kick off. The ball went into touch giving York excellent field position from which Tyler Craig went over for the game’s first score with just over a minute on the clock.

The second try followed quickly as York monopolised possession. Jonny Presley dummied through and gave Ed Smith the scoring pass.

The All Golds got back into the game and scored two quality tries to leave the scores level at 10-10. A well-executed set move opened up the York left edge and Chris Barlow touched down, this immediately after he had been hauled down inches short.

Courtney Davies struck a superb conversion for the touchline.

They followed that with another excellent score. Josh Allison made yards upfield on the free play after a York error and then Lewis Reece broke free on the opposite wing to send Phil Cowburn in at the corner.

The All Golds were now playing possibly their best rugby of the season; sharp, crisp and with pace and the York defence was having a torrid time. But the storm subsided, the Knights began to up the pace and the cracks emerged.

Craig stepped inside Davies to score and then Brett Turner did exactly the same thing as the All Golds’ sliding defence failed to function and the Welsh halfback was left exposed.

James Morland then collected a looped pass for the home side’s third try in seven devastating minutes.

Had Nicklas been on target with his kicks, the damage would have been worse. However, a 22-10 deficit at the break it was salvageable but only if the All Golds could summon the spirit of Wrexham.

Unfortunately, the genie stayed firmly in the bottle. After ten minutes of sparring, the floodgates were prised open by Russ Spiers, Nicklas adding the goal to ironic cheers from the home fans.

From then on it was one-way traffic as the All Golds fell apart. The Knights attacked from all angles and directions and the score steadily mounted.

Austin Buchanan went over out wide from Presley’s pass and though Steve Parry burrowed over for a consolation score, the result was not now in doubt.

Jordan Crowther went over and then Presley touched down after some lovely handling by the Knights’ backs down the right.

Nicklas crossed himself as the All Golds’ right edge was exposed again and then the former All Gold halfback supplied a neat offload for Ryan Mallinder to score and take the score past the half century.

Turner scored his second try in the final minute with a posse of York players chasing him over the line celebrating their date in Blackpool with Keighley Cougars.