Match Preview - York City Knights
18/03/2021
York City Knights come into the 2021 season with high expectations after an impressive first season back in the second tier.
The Knights finished 3rd in the 2019 Betfred Championship and expectations have risen after the subsequent break of Championship rugby league as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After moving out of Bootham Crescent, York have a new home for 2021 and beyond at the impressive 8,000 capacity LNER Community Stadium, which was christened with a lively opening match last Thursday evening,
As well as a new stadium, York have introduced a number of new faces in their 2021 squad - the North Yorkshire club attempting another playoff push this term.
James Ford has added a wealth of Super League experience to his squad for the upcoming campaign with Ryan Atkins, Ben Jones-Bishop, Kieran Dixon, Danny Kirmond, Adam Cuthbertson, and former London Broncos half-back Morgan Smith all signed for 2021.
In York’s first and only friendly, they faced Super League side Hull FC and provided a competitive performance.
The Knights pushed Brett Hodgson’s side to the final hooter, with the Black and Whites narrowly edging out James Ford’s side 22-28.
Adam Swift scored the first try of the evening before Mahe Fonua added a second Hull score.
Warrington Wolves loanee Riley Dean scored York’s first try of the night after good build-up work from Kieran Dixon.
Carlos Tuimavave added a third FC score after Josh Reynolds latched on a York error before tries from Manu Ma’u and Chris Satae extended the visitors’ advantage.
York sought a late comeback with scores from Ben Jones-Bishop, Liam Salter and Tyme Dow-Nikau but the Super League side held on to win by six points.
James Ford enters his sixth year as York head coach in 2021 and will be looking for more progress from the Knights this season.
They have shown progression on and off the field since Ford’s arrival as head coach in 2015, a third-place finish in their first season back in the Championship enough for Ford to win ‘Championship Coach of the Year’ alongside the Knights being named the 2019 ‘Championship Club of the Year’.
York’s impressive rise has earned the 38-year-old a reputation as one of the best young coaches in the country and his side are sure to provide the Eagles with several challenges this evening.
One to Watch - Kieran Dixon
The pacy 28-year-old signed for the club in the off-season after a successful second spell with London Broncos.
Dixon, who had a prolific period with Hull Kingston Rovers before joining the Broncos, is one to keep an eye on tonight.
In addition to his try-scoring prowess, Dixon could add points from the tee if he is handed York’s goal-kicking duties.
How To Watch
The game will be shown live on TheSportsman.com as well as their Facebook and YouTube channels.
Website: https://www.thesportsman.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo8OTxf4QJ6oH_g21vEVUfQ
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By Lewis Coleman, photo by Alex Coleman
