York Knights secured a third consecutive Super League victory for the first time in their history – as Hull FC’s poor away form continued.
Mark Applegarth’s side came back from 16-8 down at half-time to clinch their sixth win of the campaign to go ninth in the table and leapfrog Hull who have won just once away from home this season.
Tries from David Nofoaluma, Jon Bennison, Denive Balmforth and Nikau Williams, boosted by two kicks from Bennison’s boot, enabled York to inflict further misery on the Black and Whites, who had led at half time after three tries in 12 minutes only to produce an error-strewn second half.
With their opponents piling on the pressure late on, York had veteran hooker Paul McShane to thank for a last-ditch tackle that dislodged the ball from Herman Ese’ese inches from the line as the Hull forward tried to level the score.
There has been a sense that Hull, with Andy Last currently in interim charge, are simply waiting for a miserable campaign to finish as they await the revitalising effect of the arrival of Steve McNamara as head coach.
Knights scored the game’s first two tries, with Nofoaluma finishing expertly in the left corner to put them in front on eight minutes, and Bennison collecting after 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 that they looked to capitalise on. Tom Briscoe finished off a training-ground routine close to the line to go over on 30 minutes, and Joe Batchelor pouched a brilliant offload from Hugo Salabio to complete the turnaround.
With Zak Hardaker converting twice for extras, Hull went in at the interval in a strong position.
York’s fightback started with a dancing try from Balmforth just three minutes into the second period, with the extras added by Bennison, whose penalty levelled the score at 16-16.
It was indicative of a lapse in Hull’s discipline – they gave up six penalties in the first 20 minutes of the second half – and when Williams jinked through to ground the ball and give York the lead, the visitors’ belief drained.
It was ultimately to Hull’s credit that York had to hang on to secure victory late on, and McShane went from villain to hero as the minutes ticked down.
He picked up a loose pass to race clear in defence, only to spill the ball after making 10 metres.
But when Hull pressed again in front of the posts and Ese’ese charged to touch down, McShane’s crucial covering tackle as the pair grappled over the line forced a knock-on.
York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth told BBC Radio York:
“We made hard work of that second half, but I’m really proud of the character shown.
“I was filthy at half-time because I thought we let Hull back into it. We were dipping our toe in in terms of contact and intent – we were a little bit flat.
“So I challenged the lads for a response and we got off to the perfect start after half-time.
“The last 15 minutes we seemed to be just defending non-stop in our own half. There were a few unforced errors, but Hull have some quality players and I thought we showed loads of grit and loads of desire and loads of character.
“If someone said to me ‘What are York Knights about?’ I wish I could bottle that feeling up and say ‘There you go’. I thought how the lads responded and did what they did was absolutely outstanding.”
Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last told BBC Radio Humberside:
“Lots to ponder and lots to think about, but I’m disgusted really with 60 minutes of that performance. First 20 we didn’t get out of the blocks, which is an indicator of attitude. Second 20 minutes we were a lot better.
“But we went in at half-time and spoke about the importance of that next 20. We didn’t get that right. We were ill-disciplined, and you don’t give yourself any sort of opportunity to build any sort of pressure in terms of position, and it was just so 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 last week about discipline, so I am bitterly disappointed and frustrated.
“We could have won this game tonight. It was close but not close enough to get our muzzle in front.
“We have spoken about attitude all week and stressed the point of the importance of delivering and getting the basics right. But as a team we are failing, collectively and individually.”
On Jed Cartwright’s departure to St Helens: “Obviously Jed going away to St Helens meant we didn’t have the chance to practise as a team and we had to make some changes late last night.
“Yes there was disruption there, but that is not an excuse.”
York: Mataafa, Bennison, Galeano, Williams, Nofoalume, Hunter, McShane; Martin, Inman, Va’a, Buchanan, Field, Thompson.
Interchanges: Balmforth, Vaughan, Foster, Hingano.
Hull FC: Moy, Barron, Briscoe, Hardaker, Martin, Arthur, Sezer; Ese’ese, Bourouh, Hill, O’Neill, Batchelor, Bell.
Interchanges: Aydin, Clark, Cust, Salabio.
Referee: Tara Jones.
