Super League: Wakefield Trinity 28-12 York Knights – hosts secure play-off spot

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: 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.