WING wonder Peter Fox roared in with a hat-trick on his York City Knights debut against his old mates from Leeds Rhinos - then modestly declared it "part and parcel of his job".

His terrific treble helped the Knights to a morale-boosting 38-24 pre-season victory in front of 3,509 fans on Monday at Bootham Crescent, against a Rhinos side which included several Super League stars at the outset, including Marcus Bai and Willie Poching, who had starred in their Grand Final triumph last season.

Fox - the former York Acorn junior who is on loan for the season from Leeds - lined up directly opposite Bai and, although he scored all his tries in the second half after the Papua New Guinean had left the fray, he impressed throughout and, hopefully, gave a try-scoring sign of what's to come this season.

"I was very happy with the game," said Fox, who joined the Knights from the Rhinos' Academy in November.

"I thought we played well, we worked to our systems that Mick Cook (head coach) has brought in.

"Scoring tries is part and parcel of the job I have to do. I was quite relaxed and confident about the job I had to do, I listened to what Mick Cook had to tell me and I enjoyed it."

Leeds fielded a predominantly young side in the second half featuring several of Fox's former team-mates.

"Credit to Leeds, they stuck into it until the last minute and gave us a good game. There was a lot of youngsters in their side in the second half and they did well."

Fox lined up alongside former Widnes and Leigh centre Dan Potter in a York born-and-bred outside-back partnership that will hopefully yield tries aplenty for Cook's men.

He said: "I've known Dan for a long time - his dad is good mates with my dad - but it was the first time I've played with him, and it went well."

He added: "It was a good stepping-stone for us for a long season ahead. We're going to take it one step at a time. We have to sharpen up and we've got a few things to do and improve on in training but it was a good platform for us."

Cook said Fox had had "a great game", and the winger also won praise from his old chief at Headingley, Leeds boss Tony Smith.

"We would prefer him not to have scored against us but in some ways that's good," said Smith.

"He would have been highly motivated and he can finish. He was solid under the high ball as well, he's been working on that aspect of his game.

"We're delighted for him and knew when he was going to York it would be a good move for both him and the Knights. He needs experience of playing against men week in week out."

As for the Knights as a whole, Smith said: "I was very impressed, they were very good. I was impressed last year (after the corresponding fixture) and I was impressed with them again this time.

"I haven't seen them a lot in between unfortunately but they're certainly a team to be reckoned with in National League Two.

"We wish them well. It's great the Rhinos have this association with them and hopefully they will go from strength to strength."

Updated: 11:03 Wednesday, January 05, 2005