York City Knights 48 Egremont Rangers 8

Egremont Rangers battled away gamely but, in the end, were seen off quite comprehensively by League One outfit York City Knights in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup third round.

Three home tries inside 13 minutes gave Rangers a mountain to climb as they sought a cup shock, while a plethora of penalties against them made it even more of an uphill battle on a plush Bootham Crescent surface.

They did get some reward for their efforts, with tries in either half by player-coach John-Paul Brocklebank and man-of-the-match hooker Matthew Henson.

But fatigue and frustrations boiled over in the last quarter with Kieran Glenn and Rhys Davies sin-binned and Leon Crellin sent off, which at one point left them down to 10 men.

The final scoreline of 48-8 could have been worse for Mont, with York missing seven of their 10 conversion attempts, but then getting a half-century of points would have been harsh on the amateurs.

On Saturday, Siddal, West Hull and Fryston pushed League One clubs Toronto, Whitehaven and Keighley close, and the Knights probably had this in mind as they began with pace in a bid to kill the visitors’ hopes quickly.

Rangers half-helped them, too, as dissent while in possession handed the hosts easy territory, with former Castleford full-back Ash Robson showing his Super League class with a fine finish to make them pay.

The restart also went out on the full and, soon enough, Harry Carter ran home from dummy-half as a quick play-the-ball opened a gap.

A third try soon followed, Harry Tyson-Wilson’s chip finding winger Dee Foggin-Johnston in plenty of space to score.

Egremont, by now 5-0 down on the penalty count, had some respite after a penalty of their own, full-back Davies’ chip and a good chase forcing a dropout.

They soon forced a second, too, but this time the ball went to ground and, as York executed a fine free play, Nev Morrison sprinted 90 metres home, the chasing Davies unable to close in.

However, the next time Egremont got a repeat set, they did score, Henson’s crash ball seeing Brocklebank make it 16-4.

Brocklebank, the former Whitehaven man, had been passed fit late on to take his place at stand-off, but his side were missing half-back James McDonald, second-row Mike Ellwood and BARLA international hooker Marcus O’Brien due to injuries suffered in round two against Wigan St Patrick’s.

York, by contrast, had arguably their strongest side out, yet it was Rangers who finished the half stronger.

Three tries in the opening 13 minutes of the second period nevertheless killed the tie, second-row Brad Hey, stand-off Danny Sowerby – with a show and go – and debutant Joe Batchelor, from a fine Hey break, sending York clear on the scoreboard.

Henson replied with a try his display had deserved, Daniel Telford’s fine pass giving him the chance.

However, referee Liam Staveley was giving them little leeway and further penalties led to a team warning and a yellow card for impressive second-row Glenn.

Foggin-Johnston then got over in the corner, with Davies sin-binned for a foul while the try was being scored. Tyson-Wilson added the penalty points too.

Crellin soon saw red for a high tackle on former York Acorn amateur Joe Porter, who enjoyed a fine debut for the Knights.

Hey scored a solo try against the 10 men, while Foggin-Johnston’s run set up a Robson try against 12 on the hooter.

York: Robson, Brierley, Batchelor, Morrison, Foggin-Johnston, H Tyson-Wilson, Sowerby, Dixon, Carter, Siddons, E Smith, Hey, Spears. Subs (all used): P Smith, B Tyson-Wilson, Robinson, Porter.

Tries: Robson 4, 80; Carter 6; Foggin-Johnston 13, 65; Morrison 25; Hey 43, 73; Sowerby 50; Batchelor 53.

Goals: H Tyson-Wilson 4/10; Robson 0/1.

Egremont: Davies, Aitken, Crellin, Stainton, Newton, Brocklebank, Bold, Horner, Henson, Hailes, Bewsher, Glenn, Wright. Subs (all used): Telford, Laverick, Leak, Brown.

Tries: Brocklebank 32; Henson 61.

Goals: Bewsher 0/1; Bold 0/1.

Cards: Crellin (red, 69); Glenn (yellow, 63); Davies (yellow, 65).

HT: 16-4

Penalties: 14-3

Referee: Liam Staveley (Bradford)

Attendance: 600 (Estimated)

Star Man: Henson