Historic Head To Heads - York RLFC

It will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides in 21 years, so we delved through the archives to check the head to head stats, let's take a look back at some notable clashes over the years. 

There has been 103 competitive fixtures between the sides throughout the history of Rugby League, with the Tigers holding the weight of the wins. 63 victories (including 21 on the road) with York coming out on top 36 times (27 of which were at home), while the sides have shared the points 4 times. 

The two sides once ended all square twice within in the space of just 21 days back in 1932, drawing 4-4 at Wigginton Road on 10th December before a 2-2 result in the reverse fixture at Wheldon Road on New Years Eve. 

Ford's biggest winning margin in the fixture stands at 26 points, coming on 28th August 1988, a 40-14 home win in the Yorkshire Cup. Grant Anderson and Chris Chapman grabbing braces, as Gary Belcher, Giles Boothroyd, Tony Marchant and David Plange all chipped in with four pointers. 

York's biggest win came in Castleford's first season in 1926, winning 24-2 on 9th October in the opening round of the Yorkshire Cup. The Knights would also win the first ever league meeting of the two sides on 25th September that year, a 21-10 result at home. 

But it wouldn't take long for the Black and Amber to strike in the tie, our first league win over York coming the following season, a 6-3 victory at Wheldon Road on 5th February 1927. 

The last league meeting took place on 29th January 1986, York edging it at home 18-14 at Clarence Street. But the Tigers hold records across the lineage of the game. Andy Timson holds the record as the only man to score a hat-trick in the matchup, scoring three tries as Cas triumphed 42-30 on 23rd August 1981 in the 2nd Round of the Yorkshire cup on their way to winning the competition.

In the Challenge Cup, the most recent meeting took place at the turn of the Millennium, the Tigers winning 28-2 at Whelden Road on 26th February 1999. Brad David, Michael Eager, Lee Harland and Francis Maloney the scorers with Danny Orr kicking 6 goals in front of a crowd of 5411 at The Jungle.

Away from the first team, British Sprinter Dwain Chambers made his Rugby League debut against the Knights in a reserve fixture in 2008, although we all know how that particular scene played out. 

Our last competitive meeting took place in the 2005 Northern Rail Cup, Haughey, Henderson, Kain and Shenton among the try scorers as Adam Watene was shown a red card in a fiery affair that saw the Tigers win on the road 24-16 at South Ryedale. 

The Knights' surroundings have certainly changed over the years, now boasting a home to be proud of for the modern era. The 8,500 capacity LNER Community Stadium opened in 2021, and is hosting its first season in Super League in 2026. 

Join the Tigers on the road this May. Match tickets and coach travel packages are available now. For bookings, please click here

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