York Knights defeat leaves them facing drop

Woods led York to promotion through the play-offs last season

York City Knights are facing relegation from the Championship after losing 52-18 at Sheffield Eagles in their final game of the season.

York must now wait on a Rugby Football League decision over whether to admit the Crusaders following their withdrawal from Super League.

If the RFL opt to include Crusaders the Knights will drop into Championship One after one term in the second tier.

The RFL say they will make decision within a fortnight.

Following the defeat Knights coach Dave Woods told BBC Radio York: "The mood in the camp was great, I was really confident of getting a victory, but the display was poor.

"We relaxed in training in the last fortnight and changed things up a bit, we've trained very, very well, but the display was poor to say the least.

"When you're fighting for survival it just didn't look like some blokes were out there giving it that. I know they were, but there were (too many) missed tackles again.

"Our defence was back to being that rubbish which it has been on some occasions."

The Knights missed their chance to stay up as relegation rivals Hunslet lost to Halifax, despite leading for much of the game.