YORK City Knights went into the weekend as joint-leaders on points in National League Two yet fifth on points-difference.

Opponents Gateshead Thunder, on the other hand, were bottom of the pile without a win in 11 months, and, with a massive home crowd basking in the Huntington Stadium sunshine on what proved to be a fabulous "family fun day", the stage was set for the Knights to rattle up a cricket score and thence climb the league ladder.

They kind of kept to the bargain by winning easily, but this was one of the few occasions when supporters could be a bit under-whelmed by a 48-12 thrashing.

Thunder had won last year's corresponding fixture in arguably the shock of the season, but four home tries in the opening quarter killed any chance of a repeat and instead had fans awaiting a landslide.

However, despite looking well-set with a 32-0 interval lead on the back of some quality expansive rugby, York then dished up arguably their worst 40 minutes of the season attack wise, where they completed only one of every five sets, fluffed chances and treated the ball like a hand grenade without a pin such was their propensity to give possession away.

The game was already in the bag by then and Richard Agar's men still won the half 16-12, but it seemed they had missed a chance to send their scoring ratio into overdrive - and they will need to improve against better opposition.

Still, there must be a certain gratification to be able to find such fault in such a big win.

Gateshead began as they meant to go on, happy to throw the ball around with a confidence that belied their 23-game win-less run.

But defensively they struggled and they soon fell behind, and it was their old nemesis, Alex Godfrey, who did the damage. The 13-try winger was back after four games out with a hamstring injury and it was business as usual just seven minutes into his return as he latched onto Darren Callaghan's superb break and deft pass to race past the full-back. It was Godfrey's sixth try in the three meetings between the sides this term.

Incredibly, Danny Brough's conversion from bang in front hit a post but he was on target two minutes later to convert Scott Rhodes' try, the stand-off having taken a sublime pass from Lee Jackson to speed through a tiny gap.

York looked dangerous with every attack and, with the hottest day of the season wearing down defences' legs, Gateshead were having to toil.

Sure enough, it was soon 14-0 and Rhodes was this time the instigator alongside Damian Ball, who put flying winger Austin Buchanan in to open his account for the club just 18 minutes into his debut. The former Leeds youngster, although never tested in defence, looked impressive every time he went forward.

Two minutes later, Rhodes' perfectly-timed pass saw Callaghan on the burst and he put Simon Friend storming to the sticks.

Friend had a second try, from Brough's grubber, ruled out for offside, but it didn't take long for the next score, Buchanan legging it down the flank and putting Chris Langley in to finish off a fine move started by Mark Cain and Ball.

Two minutes later, a miracle pass out of the back of Craig Forsyth's right hand saw Brough make it 32-0 at the break - and spare Elston's blushes.

The hooker had raced away but kept hold and was tackled instead of putting team-mates in the clear, but he made amends soon after the break with an arcing run that bewildered the defence and put Brough in for his second converted try.

Callaghan had already missed a chance, failing to ground the ball after unselfish work by the departing Mark Stewart, but, with the attacks already clicking, it looked like York would run amok again.

However, complacency set in and there were too many forced passes, and from one, Robin Peers intercepted to race 60 yards to the line.

Some solid work then saw barrel-like Ben Hodgson force his way over and, although York hit back as Buchanan and Callaghan began an attack that ended with Rhodes putting in Mark Cain, things didn't get much better and, after Brough was sin-binned for dissent, a wayward Elston pass saw Neil Thorman superbly put Kevin Neighbour away.

A double movement denied John Smith a try but York did have the last word as a much improved length-of-the-field set saw Elston and Ball tee up Langley for his second of the game and fifth in five, Ball curling over the conversion.

Match facts:

LHF Healthplan National League

Division Two

Sunday, May 23, 2004

at Huntington Stadium

Knights: Graham 8, Buchanan 8, Langley 8, Callaghan 7, Godfrey 7, Rhodes 7, Brough 7, Wilson 7, Jackson 7, Sozi 7, J Smith 7, Friend 7, Ball 8. Subs (all used): Elston 7, Cain 7, Stewart 7, Forsyth 7.

Tries: Godfrey 7; Rhodes 9; Buchanan 18; Friend 20; Lang-ley 35, 78; Brough 38, 45; Cain 62.

Conversions: Brough 9, 20, 35, 38, 45; Ball 78.

Pens: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Brough 69.

Sent off: None.

Thunder: Stephenson, Bunting, Neighbour, Firth, Peers, P Thorman, Fisher, Line, N Thorman, Bradley, Garside, Doherty, Ruther-ford. Subs (all used): Griffiths, Dawson, Endersby, Hodgson.

Tries: Peers 49; Hodgson 56; Neighbour 70.

Conversions: None.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Damian Ball - worked hard throughout and had a big impact on proceedings without seeking any individual glory.

HT: 32-0

Ref: Peter Taberner (Wigan)

Rating: Neither the best nor worst., and either way wasn't needed much.

Penalty Count: 12-7.

Gamebreaker: The first few tries negated any chance of a shock.

Attendance: 1,048.

Weather watch: hot and sunny.

Match rating: It started as fun in the sun on this designated family day, but the second half saw too many errors.

Updated: 09:23 Monday, May 24, 2004