MATCH REPORT - YORK CITY KNIGHTS 42 - 13 NEWCASTLE THUNDER

No cup run for Thunder in 2022 as York prevail in Challenge Cup round four

A strong start and two moments of magic from Craig Mullen weren’t enough for Newcastle Thunder on Sunday afternoon, as they exited the 2022 Betfred Challenge Cup following a 42-13 loss to York City Knights.

Thunder struck twice in the opening stages as they began their campaign with purpose but as the tie progressed, the hosts made the most of their chances to take an ultimately comfortable win.

For the first time this season, Thunder were the first off the marks with Mullen at his mercurial best for a converted try with just three minutes on the clock.

Breaking down the left, the fullback took the ball at pace as Thunder whipped it down the line and opened up the York defence with a feint to his left.

Straightening his run and shrugging off a high shot from the Knights 17, Mullen avoided the final defender to complete the almost perfect start.

After forcing a repeat set, York were back level after eight minutes as Liam Harris put in a pinpoint grubber kick that Jamie Ellis touched down as he found himself with time and space to gather.

The frenetic pace continued as Thunder retook the lead with another Mullen moment as the Knights were punished for a reset of the tackle count.

Playing at the ball and losing it forward as the visitors attempted a power-play, Thunder’s number one struck on the first tackle of the new set, dancing his way through the York line before pirouetting his way to the line to avoid the last tackler.

Both sides traded sets following, but the Knights took control of the tie in the second segment of the first half, with three converted tries swinging the momentum firmly the way of the hosts.

They were level through Ronan Dixon with his first touch of the game as he finished a break by Matty Marsh moments after coming onto the field, before the fullback himself struck three minutes later.

Liam Harris’ poaching of the ball on half way three minutes from the break gave him an easy run to the line, as he gathered an attempted chip behind from Jake Shorrocks, but Newcastle had the last word of the half with a well taken drop goal from Josh Woods.

The visitors were dealt a blow within two minutes of the restart when an awkward tackle on Jay Chapelhow saw him forced from the field through injury.

Carrying through contact with typical vigour, it was particularly cruel with the game being his first since returning to full fitness, with the full extent of the damage awaiting confirmation by the club’s medical department.

When play resumed York were quick to extend their lead through Marcus Stock, who surged through a gap created by a dummy pass from Harris to keep the hosts stranglehold of the game.

Two further converted tries added gloss to the Knights win towards the end, as Thunder head back to their Betfred Championship campaign with much to work on, ahead of a trip to Leigh Centurions on Sunday.

Newcastle Thunder

1 Craig Mullen, 22 Alex Donaghy, 28 Alex Sutton, 23 Isaac Nokes, 5 Gideon Boafo, 6 Jake Shorrocks, 7 Josh Woods, 19 Pat Moran, 9 Josh Eaves 15 Ted Chapelhow, 26 Matty Nicholson, 20 Brad Gallagher, 13 Sam Hallas, 21 Leiws Peachey, 15 Jay Chapelhow, 8 Nathan Wilde, 14 Connor Bailey

Tries - Mullen (3, 14)

Goals - Shorrocks 2/2

York City Knights 

1 Matty Marsh, 26 Brad Ward, 3 James Glover, 4 Jacob Ogden, 23 Alwyn Towse, 19 Liam Harris, 7 Jamie Ellis, 8 Masimbaashe Matongo, 9 Will Jubb, 24 Ronan Michael, 21 Toby Warren, 17 Dan Kirmond, 13 Jordan Thompson, 20 Kris Brining, 15 Ronan Dixon, 16 Marcus Stock, 10 Jack Tenby

Tries - Ellis (9), Dixon (24), Marsh (27, 67) Kirmond (37), Stock (49), Ward (79)

Goals - Ellis 7/7