Knottingley Mustangs U18's 2026

Knottingley Mustangs 24 - 18 Hull Wyke

The Knottingley coaches asked their team for a response following Wednesday night's disappointing performance and boy did they respond in style.

The hosts started brightest, completing at a high level and earning repeat sets from good kick chase to find themselves in good field position.
A strong power play on the last tackle that saw prop Harrison storm over to the left side of the uprights to open the scoring, a try that Matty converted with ease for a well deserved 6 points lead.

Hull Wyke soon grew back into the game, capitalising on some simple errors to dominate territorially.
Despite some great defensive efforts, the away side spotted a gap in the home sides goal line defence to cross for a simple try that was also converted to bring the scores all level again.

The game then turned into a real arm wrestle with neither side taking a backwards step and both completing their sets looking for the other to come up with the next mistake.
The quick thinking Tom, spotting a tired defender on the halfway line, giving the ball to the influential Matty who in turn sent backrow enforcer Jack E rampaging through a wide gap and he calmly engaged the oncoming fullback to return the ball back inside to Matty who raced 30 metres to score a well worked try.
Marley resuming goalkicking duties and duly obliging from in front to extend the hosts lead to 12-6.

The Mustangs stood strong and held their own to go into the halftime interval protecting that 6 point cushion.

A resurgent Wyke side who no doubt had stern words ringing in their ears started strong in the second period and soon found themselves back level with a well worked converted try down the left within just minutes of the restart.

This seemed to spark the visitors into life and they again took the game by control to find themselves camped on the Knottingley try line.
Despite some great defending, a quick play the ball and a resulting scoot catching the markers not set to score another converted try to go in front for the first time with 15 minutes remaining.

Things went from bad to worse as the following kick off sailed out on the full to hand the Hull side possession once again in the Mustangs 40, but again solid defending kept out the visitors with some particularly excellent last ditch scramble defence to hold firm.

The Mustangs opting to run on the last, saw them find space down the left edge and a sublime kick through into the in goal area by Matty was pounced upon by the heavily head bandaged Franki to score out wide.
Marley holding his nerve from Infront of the Hull Wyke faithful to add the extras to bring the scores on the doors to 18 a piece with just over 5 minutes remaining.

Both teams again went hammer and tong at each other, neither side wanting to back down or make an unnecessary error.

It was that man Matty again who found space on the left edge to send Franki into space and he returned the ball back in a typical one two fashion. Matty then raced towards the covering fullback with centre Franki being impeded by his opposite number, however a delightful cut out ball found winger Ashley who raced 35 metres down the touchline before casually placing the ball down under the posts for his first ever Mustang try, one that sent the Knottingley crowd into sheer jubilation.
Marley once again adding the extras from in front to extend the hosts lead to 24-18 with just minutes on the clock.

Again solid defending and a desire to work for each other saw the Mustangs home and to a well deserved win in a thoroughly entertaining afternoon of junior grassroots rugby league in West Yorkshire.

From 1 to 20 for the Mustangs all stood tall and deserve praise for their performances in an excellent team performance.

TRIES: Harrison, Matty, Franki and Ashley

GOALS: Matty 1/1 & Marley 3/3

It's remarkably cooler than previous days but still looking to be a nice day, so why not come and join us here at Howard's Field, home of both Knottingley Rufc and Knottingley Mustangs rugby league.

Our 15's start the morning at 10:30 followed by the high flying under 16's who kick off their game at 11:30 before our very own boys get underway against Hull Wyke at 12:30!

Coaches Si and Banksy have named their starting line up ahead of today's fixture, making a couple of changes and rotations to keep the lads fresh and free from complacency.

See you all down here this morning and good luck to all players, coaches and volunteers involved.

It's round 13 in division two this Sunday and the Mustangs are hoping it's their lucky number and they return to winning ways following back to back defeats.

Hull Wyke are the visitors and will be yet another stern test for the boys, having thumped and under strength Knottingley side 30-6 in round 2 but also being the only side to turn over table toppers Normanton Knights.

The hosts are hurting from their recent performances and do have a few sore bodies but still hope to have a large squad to rotate from.

As ever, if you're at a loose end then these boys would gladly welcome your support down at Howard's Field, details as below:

🆚 Hull Wyke

📅 Sun 28th June

🕧 12:30 KO

📌 Knottingley Rufc

Normanton Knights 34 - 6 Knottingley Mustangs

It was a tough evening for the side in the sunshine as they came up short at Normanton's notorious graveyard stadium.

The opening exchanges were tough and fearless with neither side taking a backwards step, however the home side soon got on top with a quick fire double courtesy of poor errors and ill discipline giving the home side key field position.

The visitors soon grew into the game and made several breaks backed up with Mason crashing over only to be deemed to have been held up over the goal line preventing them getting on the scoreboard.

Knights extended their lead just before the break through some woeful defending in mid field to break from distance, rounding the full back to score a converted try to give the hosts a comfortable 16-0 half time lead.

The Mustangs started the second period brightly and again made good breaks with Cole unlucky to see his try effort ruled out.

Credit to Normanton who kept things simple and completed at an high level, this resulting in good field territory and then capitalism on errors or tired defence to extend their lead further.

Harrison scored a fine individual effort late on for the visitors to give them some consolation for their efforts in a game where Tom was outstanding throughout and supported ably by Cole, Mason and Jack S in what was a sub par performance from the Mustangs.

Final score Normanton Knights 34 Knottingley Mustangs 6.

TRIES - Harrison

GOALS - Matty X1

Next up - Hull Wyke this Sunday 12:30 KO at home

After a week off the boys are back on the road, albeit a couple of junctions up the M62 where they'll face league leaders Normanton Knights at their self proclaimed Graveyard stadium.

The boys commence back training tomorrow and their coaches will be looking for a big response to the last game, one that will definitely be needed if they have any realistic chances of leaving WF6 with 2 competition points.

If you're at a loose end, why not come and cheer on the boys in the baking sunshine as they go toe to toe with the league table toppers, challenge cup and Wakefield cup finalists.

This should be a cracking game of grassroots junior rugby league!

Let's go Mustangs!!

Mustangs 8 - Queensbury 20

The Mustangs gave arguably their worst performance of the season against a well drilled and determined Queensbury side who took the two points on offer to leapfrog the hosts in the league table.

From the onset it wasn't the best of starts for Knottingley as a couple of players decided to not play at the eleventh hour and one without notifying the team of their absence.

Low completions resulted in good territory with repeat sets for the visitors who were able to expose weak defending out wide to open the scoring.

From the following kick off, Queensbury continued to play smart and again took advantage of poor errors by the hosts to again score out wide for another unconverted try.

The introduction of Harrison from the bench sparked life into the Mustangs outfit and despite not being able to train of late, managed to crash through several would be defenders to score on the left edge for a try Marley was unlucky not to convert.

Unfortunately normal service resumed and Queensbury bagged a further try brace to take a well deserved 16-4 lead into the halftime break.

The second half began to look more of an even balanced contest with neither side giving a back step.
It wasn't until the 55th minute the deadlock was eventually broken, a fine solo effort from captain Franki who broke from deep to race some 65 metres to score out wide.
Again Marley seeing his goal kick drift wide of the uprights.

The Mustangs revival was short lived as the visitors themselves scored out wide despite the best efforts of debutant Coby-Lee.

Best for Mustangs in a well below par performance were Cole, Harrison and Jamie who all worked tirelessly throughout.

The Mustangs are without a game this weekend but are back in league action a week on Wednesday when they make the short trip the league leaders Normanton Knights.

Final score - Knottingley Mustangs 8 - Queensbury 20

TRIES:

Harrison and Franki

GOALS:

Marley 0/2

Next up:

✈️ Weds 24th 7pm 🆚 Normanton Knights

The coaching team have named their 21 man squad ahead of this eagerly anticipated Division 2 clash with high flying Queensbury.

Jack S returns to the team having missed the last few weeks through injury and a welcome return is also in store for Connor G who rejoined the Mustangs this week, having not played since 2025.

Knottingley will also look to give a debut to new signing Coby-Lee who also joined the side this week, having not played for a number of years but previously starred for Fryston Warriors.

Please get down early as we have 3 junior games on back to back at our Howard's Field home pitch, with the under 15's getting the show rolling at 10:30 followed by the 16's who kick off at 11:30.

📅 Sun 14th June

🕧 12:30 KO

🆚 Queensbury

📌 Knottingley Rufc

The boys return to action this Sunday with a big home tie against Queensbury who sit pretty in 4th place of the league table.

The Mustangs are still without a couple of long term absentees and now have a further loss via suspension but see Jack S return from concussion to bolster the ranks.

These two sides have never previously met but Queensbury have impressed with some good wins this season, particularly a 2-0 victory over Siddal on the opening day of the season.
They will also compete in this year's YJL continuation cup final, a trophy well known to the Mustangs having won this themselves last season and being the current holders.

As ever, the team and volunteers would love to see as many of you down to support the boys in this crucial league game so please come join us.
There are games on from 10:30 with our 15's starting off the day followed by the 16's then wrapped up by the under 18's clash.

📅 Sun 14th June

🕧 12:30 KO

🆚 Queensbury

📌 Knottingley Rufc

With no game this weekend for our under 18's due to low playing numbers, why not still get down to the club and cheer on our other age groups

Plenty of games on

Support always welcome