YORK 20 BULLS 22

MYSTIC Dane Chisholm called it spot on as the Bulls made a winning start to League One life – just!

The injured Aussie had predicted a 22-20 victory for John Kear’s men in front of York’s largest home audience since they reformed in 2003.

And the bumper 4,281 crowd were not left disappointed by a belting game settled with the final kick.

Knights coach James Ford had called for a strong ref not likely to be swayed by a “big team”. When he watches the video back, he’ll see official Matt Rossleigh was spot on to award the decisive penalty which Joe Keyes converted after the hooter.

Keyes was mobbed by his jubilant team-mates as the celebrations began behind the posts. But the Bulls knew they had been in a battle.

Ford had embarked on some pre-match mind games with suggestions of a virus in the home camp.

Two different squad lists were released to keep the Bulls guessing but there was no hiding the presence of Kieren Moss on the wing following his arrival on loan from Hull KR as part of their dual-reg arrangement.

The Aussie, brought to Odsal by Rohan Smith in 2016, bagged 13 tries in 16 appearances for the Bulls before leaving last January when the club went into liquidation.

York had suffered a gut-wrenching ending to last year with play-off exit after a marathon extra-time and are tipped to go strongly again this time.

So it was just the type of test to ensure the Bulls were fully focused for the challenge of living up to their billing as massive title favourites.

The travelling supporters were certainly out in force – the club had shifted seven batch-loads of tickets through the week as interest swelled.

Kear had called for the Bulls army to transform the atmosphere into a home game but the York crowd were just as up for the contest.

And they were rewarded with a perfect start from the Knights after the Bulls were forced into an early goalline drop-out.

Adam Robinson brought it back with interest before Joe Batchelor drew a posse of red shirts before cleverly offloading for Moss to dive in the corner against his old employers. Connor Robinson added the extras from the touchline.

Liam Kirk pinned Knights full back Ash Robson behind his posts to give the visitors a quick chance to hit back. But quick hands in the backs proved too quick as Ethan Ryan spilled the scoring chance on the left edge.

Dalton Grant dropped a bomb as York threatened again but the defence stood firm and the Welshman dealt with the follow-up kick.

Elliott Minchella looked to restore some order for the Bulls but the adrenaline was pumping for the hosts and Ryan was spectacularly dumped to the turf by two tacklers.

But the Bulls made no mistake from their next drive. Keyes angled a kick to the corner where Ashley Gibson out-jumped Moss to finish.

Ross Peltier’s arrival further lifted the away fans and George Milton was mobbed by his team-mates for a big hit which forced a York fumble in front of the Bulls’ posts.

But York took the chance to extend their lead by a couple more points after Sam Hallas was caught offside, Robinson confidently slotting over the penalty from 35 metres.

Bulls had the opportunity to level before the break after a Knights knock-on deep in their own half – only for Lee Smith’s errant pass to land in the hands of Will Oakes as the skipper looked to keep the ball alive by the goalline.

But a moment of quality from Keyes got the Bulls in front before the break, a clever step inside fooling his marker for Minchella to stroll in. Keyes slotted the extras and Kear’s men led for the first time.

Still there was time for York to knock on the door once more in an increasingly ding-dong encounter. But Grant made up for his earlier drop by calmly taking a grubber kick on his own line to ensure the Bulls went in with their noses in front.

A Ryan knock-on presented York with an early opening on the resumption but the Bulls held firm despite the efforts of the barrelling Adam Robinson.

And instead it was the visitors who struck the first blow of the second half. Steve Crossley’s strong running was well backed up by Vila Halafihi, who earned a penalty in a threatening position.

The same double act finished the job, Halafihi’s sharp pass sending the prop powering over from close range, Keyes adding the simple extras.

But any thoughts that York would wilt were answered emphatically by a spectacular solo score from second-rower Batchelor who collected a low pass and ran half the length of the field.

As York pressed for another, Crossley came up with an important interception to steal possession from Sam Scott in front of the posts.

Keyes tacked on two more points with another penalty after a York knock-on as the game headed into the final quarter.

But it remained on a knife-edge and the home side swiftly struck back through Batchelor’s second try from a bullet pass close in. Robinson’s boot levelled the scores with 15 minutes left.

Ford urged the home crowd to make even more noise as the Knights turned up the heat.

Tim Spears could not get the ball down after finding his way over the line. But Connor Robinson slotted over a drop goal to break the deadlock.

Back came Bradford and Peltier was held in the tackle, amid much grumbling from the home audience. The travelling army weren’t complaining as Keyes sent his penalty straight through the posts from 30 metres.

The action switched back to the other end and Ryan produced a try-saving effort to ground in the in-goal area as York claimed the touchdown.

The Bulls were forced into more scrambling defence from the drop-out before Connor Robinson’s second drop goal levelled it up.

A third attempt from the Knights stand-off was charged down by a diving Hallas before York were penalised once more right on the hooter front the markers not standing straight.

The play was only a couple of metres inside their half but Keyes stepped up to nervelessly hammer home the penalty – and earn the Bulls the two points in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Player ratings

YORK: Robson 6; Cockayne 6, Oakes 7, Hey 6, Moss 7; C Robinson 7, Marsh 7; A Robinson 8, Ellis 7, Horne 6, Batchelor 7, Scott 6, Spears 7. Interchange: Jubb 6, Siddons 6, Dixon 6, Porter 7.

BULLS: McNally 6; Grant 6, Gibson 7, Smith 6, Ryan 6; Keyes 8, Minchella 8; Crossley 7, Hallas 7, Kirk 7, Garside 6, Johnson 7, Milton 6. Interchange: Peltier 7, Halafihi 7, Wood 6, Pickersgill 6.