YORK City Knights coach Mick Cook reckoned his side can heed the lessons they learned at St Helens when they tackle Gateshead in National League Two on Sunday.

The Knights lost 62-0 to Powergen Challenge Cup trophy-holders St Helens at Knowlsey Road but put up a brave performance against the Super League giants.

Asked if the scoreline could dent confidence in the camp ahead of the return to league action at Kingston Park on Sunday, Cook replied: "We don't like to get beat but we can take this on the chin.

"We knew it was going to be a massive test but our blokes enjoyed it. They knocked off work at 12 o'clock to go across there and play, and we can learn something about our players - they've been tested against the highest level in the country, a quality full-time professional side.

"They can look at their personal tapes and see how they've stood up against these Super League players. Some of them want to push forward to play Super League and this will give them an indication of where their standards are."

The Knights suffered a second-minute injury blow in the game as full-back Jon Liddell went to hospital for surgery on a compound dislocation of a finger, which meant they played virtually the entire game with one less replacement, while stand-off Scott Rhodes also suffered a dead leg.

Liddell had an operation on Saturday night and will return to hospital next Wednesday to have a brace taken off his hand and only then will he have an idea of how long he will be ruled out but it could be a few weeks.

He said: "A bone came out of my finger and they had to put it back in.

"I asked if they could strap it up because I wanted to play on but they said 'no'.

"It was a blow to miss that game. You want to test yourself against the best players and just being on the sidelines listening to the atmosphere made you want to be out there.

"I thought the York crowd were absolutely awesome."

Mark Cain was having an operation on his shoulder injury today and is likely to be out for three months.

Liddell's injury occurred seconds before 19-stone Saints prop Paul Anderson opened the scoring for the hosts in the third minute.

Saints caretaker-boss Dave Rotheram agreed size was a major factor but also had words of praise for the Knights.

"We showed a great attitude and York put us under pressure," he said. "The difference was our physical size and presence - the likes of Paul Anderson and Maurie Fa'asavalu - while Keiron Cunningham led the way defensively and that was infectious through the team in the second half.

"I thought York were fantastic. They didn't score a point but asked a lot of questions. They've got some good creative players, weren't afraid to try things and you can see around the rucks they've got some skilful, ball-playing forwards, and they kept trying throughout the game."

Updated: 11:37 Monday, May 09, 2005