Wakefield secure play-off place with win over York

Betfred Super League

Wakefield (10) 28

Tries: Hall, Walmsley 2, Myers, Jowitt Goals: Jowitt 4

York (4) 12

Tries: Jones-Bishop, Va'a Goals: Bennison 2

Second-half tries by Jayden Myers, Max Jowitt and Lachlan Walmsley helped Wakefield Trinity beat York Knights at the DIY Kitchens Stadium to secure a place in the Super League play-offs.

Corey Hall had put the hosts in front against the second-bottom side, although former Trinity player Ben Jones-Bishop reduced York's deficit to two points before Walmsley scored as Trinity took a six-point lead into the break.

Xavier Va'a's rampaging run and Jon Bennison's conversion drew York level early in the second half, but Myers went over from Mike McMeeken's pass and Jon Bennison's attempted pass went straight to full-back Jowitt, who scored and set up Walmsley for the final try six minutes later.

The win ended Trinity's three-match losing run as they moved two points clear in fourth place and six points above St Helens, who are seventh.

Their prospects of home advantage in an eliminator could hinge on their final home game of the regular season next Saturday against Warrington Wolves, who are four points above them and still within reach of the top two following their win at Hull FC.

York have now lost four games in a row but they remain level on points in the table with fourth-bottom Hull.

Trinity had threatened a top-two finish during a seven-match winning run in June and August, but defeats by Wigan Warriors, St Helens and Leeds Rhinos had ended those ambitions and head coach Daryl Powell will not have been entirely convinced by their display against York, who started the evening 18 points behind them.

After a minute's silence in honour of the late Sir Billy Boston, Powell's side made a bright start, their ample pressure paying off when Jack Sinfield's clever low kick allowed centre Hall to score his fourth try of the season.

The visitors looked increasingly confident after falling behind and hit back through Jones-Bishop in the right-hand corner, marking the back's first appearance since a home defeat by Wakefield on 27 March as part of an injury-hindered season.

Jowitt missed his conversion after Walmsley swiftly scored from Hall's ball, but McMeeken looked to have extended Trinity's lead early in the second half, only for the try to be disallowed when a video review ruled that Jowitt had impeded Scott Galeano.

Samoan prop Va'a duly barged through at the other end for York's second try, Bennison adding the points to put the contest in the balance before Ky Rodwell won a penalty that was kicked by Jowitt to put Trinity back in front.

That lead had lasted three minutes by the time Bennison's penalty restored parity, with York capitalising when Tyson Smoothy committed a high tackle on fellow replacement Ata Hingano.

Wakefield's run of three tries in 10 minutes began with McMeeken's masterful delivery to Myers, and Jowitt then increased the margin in far more fortuitous fashion.

Bennison looked disconsolate after throwing a pass inside to no-one, allowing Jowitt to score and all but end York's hopes of a surprise result in a week when the club announced a deal had been struck to sell a majority stake to new investors.

Walmsley's second try and Jowitt's third successful conversion with four minutes remaining perhaps made the scoreline harsh on York, who are two points above Bradford Bulls with the bottom side visiting Toulouse Olympique on Saturday evening.

York host Bradford in their final fixture on 10 September, coming after a trip to eighth-placed Catalans Dragons in their closing away game next Saturday.

Wakefield prop Mike McMeeken told BBC Sport:

"The main [requirement] was patience. It took us 60 or 70 minutes to break York down. We knew it was going to need an 80-minute performance.

"[Inclement] conditions like this are perfect for us to learn because if we want to get to the Grand Final come October at Old Trafford it will be a wet Saturday night like this.

"We'd like to get a home [eliminator] - that would be ideal. We were pushing for the top two, but now it's just about getting that confidence back. This helps."

York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth told BBC Radio York:

"First, congratulations to Wakefield. We wish them all the best in the play-offs and they're a quality team.

"It was a really tight game. We spoke at half-time about showing more urgency on the floor, generating more tempo, getting more field position and investing more energy in the first two tackles, to slow the rucks down so Wakefield couldn't roll us as easily.

"We told our lads to chance their arm a bit and go for glory in that last 20, so that's probably why we ended up a little more sloppy."

Wakefield: Jowitt; Myers, Scott, Hall, Walmsley; Sinfield, Trueman; Hamlin-Uele, Smith, Rodwell, McMeeken, Lipowicz, Pitts.

Interchanges: Lino, Smoothy, Tevaga, Faatili.

York: Mata'afa; Jones-Bishop, Galeano, Wood, Bennison; Hunter, Harris; Martin, McShane, Vaughan, Dee, Field, Balmforth.

Interchanges: Doyle, Va'a, Thompson, Hingano.

Referee: Liam Rush.