As the Betfred Championship season ticks towards its end with just three matches now remaining, Mark Applegarth’s Knights continue to lead the way in a fantastic run of form that seen York rise to the summit.
Their latest win brought all sorts of accolades – breaking their record of the most wins in a row, as well as a phenomenal 1000th career try for fan favourite Ben Jones-Bishop, 134 of which has come in a Knights shirt, and a sensational hat-trick for winger Scott Galeano.
Despite the comfortable final scoreline, it wasn’t a rosy win for York who were made to battle by a London side that have somewhat struggled this season, occupying fourth from bottom in the Championship after their demotion from the Betfred Super League last campaign.
Jones-Bishop’s 1000th career try came just three minutes into the contest, before London pulled in front when Ethan Natoli finished from a grubber kick, whilst Jack Smith converted – a feat that Liam Harris had failed to do so for York’s opening try.
He did make amends three minutes later when Scott Galeno scored from Oli Field’s pass, with Harris adding the extras, before a quickfire second from Galeano saw the Knights earn some breathing room at 16-6.
Galeano had his hat-trick with just shy of half an hour played when pouncing onto a looping pass into the winger, with the Knights holding a steady lead going into the break.
Harris was back in the squad after missing two matches through injury and showed his worth, finishing off a move on the tryline before converting his own effort.
Connor Bailey then added to the lad when latching onto Harris pass, before London got another try on the scoresheet through Christopher Hellec.
Brendan Santi was next up for the Knights, charging over the tryline, which was again converted by Harris.
Brendan Santi was on the scoresheet for the Knights in their win over London Broncos. (Image: Craig Hawkhead) London did continue to show fight, slimming the deficit again as Charles Robson scored an impressive when intercepting deep in his own half, before running the length of the pitch to score.
But Martin’s try on 74 minutes confirmed a 16th straight victory for the Knights, with Harris’ conversion taking the final score to 42-16.
Applegarth was boosted pre-match by the involvement of two key figures, as Harris returned to the side after a lateral collateral ligament [LCL] injury that had kept the captain out for two matches.
There was also welcome minutes for Bailey Antrobus, who pulled on the York shirt for the first time in almost a year after a horrendous period out through an anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] injury that had stunted the involvement of the Welsh international.
Applegarth had spoken on the need for the Knights to maintain their high standards pre-match, and he would have been delighted by their quick start at the LNER Community Stadium as York charged into an early lead.
Jones-Bishop’s 1000th career try was earned after he kept the ball alive on the last for the Knights, scoring in the corner to make it 4-0.
Harris was unable to convert on this occasion.
London did go into the lead with 15 minutes played as Natoli reacted quickest to a clever grubber kick put through by his Broncos teammate, with Jack Smith able to convert.
The next three tries would be crucial in setting the pace of the contest, and York had Galeano to thank as his hat-trick gifted Applegarth’s side a welcome lead.
His first of which saw the Aussie race onto Field’s pass on the wing, before weaving his way into the corner for his first of the day.
Harris added the extras from the wide angle.
Galeano and the Knights were celebrating again from an identical try, as Ata Hingano’s pass unlocked Field, who fed Galeano on the wing for his brace.
Harris’ conversion fell wide.
And with just shy of half an hour played, Galeano’s hat-trick was complete – his instinct to latch onto a looping pass proved fruitful as the winger raced through for his third of the day.
Harris’ conversion missed, as the Knights took an 18-6 lead into the break.
Similarly to the first-half, York started the quicker of the two teams as Harris marked his return with a try, weaving his way through before adding the extras from a central position.
Just three minutes later, York’s lead was extended further a Bailey latched onto a lay-off from Harris as he was being held, breaking through the London back line for the Knights’ sixth try of the afternoon.
London did get more points on the scoreboard as Hellec raced onto a pass that allowed him to push across the York tryline.
Smith converted for his second of the day.
Fan favourite Santi quickly gave the Knights fans reason to celebrate again, as he met a short pass from Hingano before finishing from close-range.
Harris added the extras to take the score further out of London’s reach.
London did not give up though, and added their final try of the day in a special fashion as Robson intercepted a pass inside his own 10 metre are and sprinted the length of the pitch, eventually scoring to take the score to 36-14.
Scott Galeano scored a sensational first-half hat-trick for the Knights. (Image: Craig Hawkhead) Smith’s final attempt of a conversion hit the post.
But the afternoon would end as it had started for the Knights, with the fans cheering as Martin latched onto Paul McShane’s grubber kick and finished the try scoring for the day off.
Harris’ added two points took the final score to 42-16 at the LNER Community Stadium.
YORK KNIGHTS: Mata’afa, Jones-Bishop, Buchanan, Field, Galeano, Hingano, Harris, Martin, McShane, Antrobus, Dee, Bailey, Thompson
INTERCHANGES: Pemberton, Santi, Clark, Reynolds
TRIES: Jones-Bishop (3), Galeano (18, 23, 28), Harris (50), Bailey (53), Santi (65), Martin (74)
GOALS: Harris (5/8)
LONDON BRONCOS: Hellec, Robson, Natoli, Smith, Qareqare, Binks, O’Beirne, Rugless, Davies, Okoro, Lovell, Adebiyi, Stock
INTERCHANGES: Hursey-Hord, Porter, Worthington, Ross
TRIES: Natoli (15), Hellec (58), Robson (72)
GOALS: Smith (2/3)
POINTS SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-4, 4-6, 8-6, 10-6, 14-6, 18-6, 22-6, 24-6, 28-6, 30-6, 30-10, 30-12, 34-12, 36-12, 36-16, 40-16, 42-16
HALF TIME: 18-6
YORK’S STAR MAN: Scott Galeano
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