Wing stars Tom Johnstone & Oli Pratt the match-winners as Wakefield Trinity pass tough test at York Knights
Two late tries secured a fourth successive win for Wakefield Trinity in all competitions, but York Knights gave them a huge fright tonight (Friday).
Trinity were under the pump for much of the first half, but took a 12-10 lead into the interval thanks to a try on the final play. The game remained tight throughout the second period until a classic winger’s finish from England ace Tom Johnstone secured the points for Trinity four minutes from time. Oliver Pratt completed his brace in the final moments and the 26-14 scoreline hugely flattered Trinity.
York should have been in front at the end of the first 40; they had the better chances and led twice, but Trinity scrambled well to restrict them to two tries and made the most of their limited opportunities. Though Wakefield led throughout the second period, they couldn’t relax until the final moments.
The hosts scored first when Sam Wood went over from a pass by Paul McShane, playing in the halves, after 14 minutes and Nikau Williams tagged on the two. Jake Trueman and Max Jowitt made try-saving tackles on Jesse Dee and Williams respectively either side of the try and Trinity levelled on a rare attack nine minutes before the break.
Jack Sinfield’s kick was spilled by David Nofoaluma and Ata Hingano picked up in an offside position. Following the penalty, Caleb Hamlin-Uele powered between the posts from first-receiver and Jowitt converted.
York responded quickly through former Trinity winger Ben Jones-Bishop who got between two defenders to make a fine catch from Hingano’s kick. He narrowed the angle, but Williams crashed the conversion attempt against an upright from almost in front of the posts and that proved the difference at half-time.
Referee Tom Grant indicated a drop out when Pratt appeared to be trapped in goal, but Wakefield challenged and video official Chris Kendall awarded them a penalty for a second effort. At the end of the resulting set quick hands by Trueman and Jowitt put Pratt - a York lad who had a spell on loan with the Knights three years ago - in at the corner and Jowitt improved from the touchline.
York got over the line early in the second half through Toa Mata’afa, but Grant said no try and Kendall ruled Jowitt had been tackled off the ground by Justin Sangare before the ball came loose. The square went into the air at the other end moments later when Corey Hall thought he had scored, but the officials decided he had been tackled into touch short of the line.
Johnstone put a bit more daylight between the sides when he crossed at the corner from Trueman’s looping pass on 57 minutes. There was no conversion and Trinity were down to 12 men with 14 minutes remaining.
Grant awarded a try to Will Dagger when he seemed to have reached a kick behind Wakefield’s line. Kendall reviewed it and disallowed the score, but Jowitt - who got a boot to the ball - was sin-binned for dangerous play. It wasn’t the best night for Grant, who had three decisions overturned on captain’s challenges, two by Trinity and one from York.
After Xavier Va’a was held up over the line moments later, Wakefield finally cracked when Williams finished off a flowing move, but he couldn’t convert, leaving the gap at two points. Johnstone cut infield to score out of the blue, from Hall’s pass with Sinfield converting and Pratt rubbed salt into York’s wound with his second in the final minute. York were playing with 12 men by that stage with Mata’afa injured and no replacements left.
York Knights: Mata’afa, Jones-Bishop, Wood, Williams, Nofoaluma, Hingano, McShane, Va’a, Balmforth, Vaughan, Dee, Griffin, Cook. Subs Dagger, Martin, Sangare, Field.
Wakefield Trinity: Jowitt, Pratt, Scott, Hall, Johnstone, Trueman, Sinfield, McMeeken, Smoothy, Rodwell, Vagana, Storton, Tevaga. Subs Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Smith.
Referee: Tom Grant (Leeds).