York City Knights' hopes of promotion ended when Oldham beat them 44-14 in their final Championship One play-off qualifier at the Huntington Stadium.

Oldham scored three tries in the opening 20 minutes and the Knights never looked like winning afterwards.

Knights coach James Ratcliffe told BBC York: "We had injuries, so did Oldham. The best team won on the day.

"It's really tough to win a game of football when you don't have (the ball) for long periods of the game."

The Knights lacked key playmaker David March through suspension, and lost another key playmaker Sean Hesketh to an ankle injury after only five minutes.

For anybody who suggests that the effort's not there... I categorically deny that James Ratcliffe

"We've had three players go down potholes today, that's something that the stadium has to sort out," added Ratcliffe.

"Paddy's not played any part after five minutes because he's hit a pothole and Lee Waterman, strangely enough, has hit the same pothole twice. Such is luck."

Many of the players who turned out were carrying knocks, so Ratcliffe was keen to defend them from criticism after their form collapsed in the play-offs.

"There's been quite a lot of debate... supporters are, rightly, allowed an opinion, but these guys have to go to work on Monday morning and they've put their bodies on the line.

"They're rugby league players, and you usually find that they're honest people.

"I want to make it clear to the supporters, everybody's disappointed.

"There has been some effort there today, there's been some effort through the week to try and get bodies on the field, and the players have risen when they needed to.

"For anybody who suggests that the effort's not there... I categorically deny that.

"It's not been the result we wanted, it's not the end of the season we wanted, but credit must go to the players when it's due."

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