Super League: York Knights 20-16 Hull FC

York Knights won their third consecutive Super League title for the first time in their history – as Hull FC’s poor form continued.

Mark Applegarth’s side came back from 16-8 down at half-time to pick up their sixth win of the campaign to move up to ninth in the table and leapfrog Hull, who have won just once away from home this season.

Tries to David Nofoaluma, John Bennison, Denyve Balmforth and Nikou Williams, with two kicks from Bennison’s boot, enabled York to inflict further misery on the Black and Whites, who led at half-time after scoring three tries in 12 minutes only to produce an error-prone second half.

With their opponents piling on the pressure late on, York had experienced hooker Paul McShane thanks to a last-ditch tackle that deflected the ball from Herman Aces inches off the line as the Hull forward tried to level the scores.

There has been a perception that Hull, with Andy Lust currently in interim charge, are just waiting for an unfortunate campaign to end as they wait for the revitalizing effect of Steve McNamara’s arrival as head coach.

The Knights scored the first two tries of the game, with Nofoaluma putting them in front eight minutes in with an expert finish in the left corner, and Bennison collecting two clever chips from Cody Hunter, first left then right, to put them 8-0 up.

But on 25 minutes, a moment of magic from Aidan Sezer brought Hull back into the game, the Australian stand-off giant-slaloming through two challenges to score his first try since September 2025.

It was a spark they seemed to capitalize on. Tom Briscoe finished a training-ground routine near the line with 30 minutes to go and Joe Batchelor finished off a superb offload turn from Hugo Salabio.

Hull went into the break in a strong position, with Jack Hardaka converting twice for the extras.

York’s fightback began with a dancing try from Balmforth just three minutes into the second period, added by Bennison, whose penalty leveled the scores at 16-16.

It was indicative of Hall’s lapses in discipline – they conceded six penalties in the first 20 minutes of the second half – and when Williams scrambled to ground the ball and give York the lead, the visitors’ faith was shattered.

It was ultimately to Hull’s credit that York had to hang on to secure a late win, and McShane went from villain to hero as the minutes ticked by.

He picked up a loose pass to race clear in defence, only to spill the ball after 10 metres.

But when Hull pressed in front of the posts again and Ese’ese charged down to touch down, McShane’s crucial covering tackle forced a knock-on as he scrambled over the line.

York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth told BBC Radio York:

“We worked hard in that second half, but I’m really proud of the character we showed.

“I was dirty at half-time because I thought we let Hull back into it. We were dipping our toe in terms of communication and intent – we were a bit flat.

“So I challenged the boys for a response and we got off to the perfect start after half-time.

“In the last 15 minutes we seemed to be defending relentlessly in our own half. There were some unnecessary errors, but Hull have some quality players and I thought we showed a lot of desire and loads of character.

“If someone says to me ‘What are York Knights?’ I wish I could shrug off that feeling and say ‘there you go’. I thought how the boys responded and what they did was absolutely outstanding.”

Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last told BBC Radio Humberside:

“There’s a lot to think about and a lot to think about, but I was really upset with the 60-minute performance. The first 20 we didn’t get out of the blocks, which is an indicator of the attitude. In the second 20 minutes we were a lot better.

“But we went into half-time and talked about the importance of the next 20. We didn’t get it right. We weren’t disciplined, and you don’t give yourself any chance to create any kind of pressure in positions, and it was very easy for York to get up the field.

“They just had to wait for us to give away a cheap penalty and we were on our own tryline again. We talked about discipline last week, so I’m hugely disappointed and disappointed.

“We could have won this game tonight. It was close but not close enough to put us in front.

“We’ve talked about attitude all week and stressed the importance of giving and getting the fundamentals right. But as a team we’ve been failing collectively and individually.”

On Jade Cartwright’s departure at St Helens: “Obviously Z moving to St Helens means we don’t have the opportunity to practice as a team and we had to make some changes last night.

“Yes there has been disruption, but that is not an excuse.”

York: Matafa, Bennison, Galliano, Williams, Nofoalum, Hunter, McShane; Martin, Inman, Bott, Buchanan, Field, Thompson.

exchange: Balmforth, Vaughan, Foster, Hingano.

Hull FC: Moy, Barron, Briscoe, Hardaker, Martin, Arthur, Sezer; Ese’ese, Bourouh, Hill, O’Neill, Batchelor, Bell.

exchange: Aydin, Clarke, Cast, Salabio.

Referee: They are Jones.