York City Knights have unsuccessfully appealed against a six-match ban for star full-back Ash Robson after he was found guilty of spitting at Whitehaven centre Chris Taylor.

The incident occurred in a League One match played at Bootham Crescent on June 18 which ended in a narrow victory for the west Cumbrians. The charge was only recently brought and dealt with by the RFL disciplinary panel.

Whitehaven’s general manager Amanda Hewer said: “I remember the referee stopping the game at the time and Chris was quite incensed. We thought he was telling the referee he had been bitten but in fact he was reporting being spat upon.

“We didn’t realise anything was going to happen until a few weeks after the game Chris was contacted about the incident.”

York said that Robson’s "reputation and well-being are really important" and that, having seen the same evidence as the disciplinary panel, they would defend him as strenuously as possible.

Now the ban has been upheld, he will miss the rest of the Super 8s, being available again this year only if the Knights reach the play-offs.

Head coach James Ford said: "We saw the same footage as the disciplinary panel, which is why we appealed.

"Ashley's reputation and well-being is a really important matter to us.

"I've spoken to the players around it and I've read the statements of the relevant people. We were very surprised, to say the least, at the verdict.

"In terms of disciplinary and playing the game within the rules and conducting yourself like professional athletes - that's a really important thing to us at York.

"If I did not believe Ashley I would not play him again. I do believe him, I have seen the evidence which is why we appealed.”

Later the Appeals Tribunal said that offences of this nature are serious and have no place in the game of Rugby League.

The Tribunal decided not to fine the player but felt that the suspension handed down by the original Tribunal of a six match suspension had been appropriate and should remain in place.

York City Knights will be without Robson for their home game with Workington Town on Sunday.