WING STAR Alex Godfrey has given coach Richard Agar credit for helping him storm to the top of the league's try-scoring table.

The 25-year-old flier sprinted in for 13 tries in 11 games during the Arriva Trains Cup period of the season and those lucky 13 made him joint-top scorer throughout all the National League clubs ahead of the league campaign.

Yet the former Hull KR and Dewsbury favourite - who is set to miss his first game of the season tomorrow after pulling a hamstring against Chorley on Monday - was quick to laud the part played by others in his recent personal success.

"The two hat-tricks in two games helped massively and I'm delighted to be up there," he said.

"The style of play has suited me better this year. We play a more expansive game which has allowed me to get more of the ball, and that is down to Richard Agar. He likes to play all across the park.

"We trained a lot in pre-season and got to know each other's game a lot and that's helped, while the form of the team as a whole obviously comes into it a lot."

Featherstone's Richard New-love and Oldham's Nick John-son also began the league season with 13 tries to their name, while Whitehaven's Mick Nanyn was one behind on 12.

Hull KR's Alasdair McLarron jumped up the list on the opening day of the league campaign with his four-try booty - including a hat-trick in the opening 15 minutes - against Keighley, while Oldham's James Bunyan also claimed four against Fev.

As regards Godfrey, he became the first Knight to score two hat-tricks for the club with his efforts against Gateshead and Dewsbury, and only the fourth to notch a single treble, following Mark Cain and Jonny Woodcock last season and Jim Elston this.

As for his scoring a hat-trick in consecutive games, you'd have to go a long way back to find the last York player (of any of the clubs) to have recorded such a feat - so long, in fact, that we at the Evening Press can't remember.

If anyone knows who the last player was to score hat-tricks in consecutive matches, please let us know (tel 01904 567137).

Meanwhile, scrum-half Danny Brough remains in the upper echelons of the goal-kicking charts, although the gap has increased to Batley record-breaker Barry Eaton.

THERE was a bit of a treat for young Knights fans last week thanks to Norris the Knight.

The popular mascot went round the ground before kick off in the Chorley game chucking out Easter eggs to the youngsters in the crowd.

Talking of the kids, they have been doing a great job in making noise for the Knights. Indeed, the way they've been banging on the advertising hoardings to spur on their team/put off the opposition is rivalling Big Ian's choir in the noise stakes.

CONGRATULATIIONS to young prop Joe Helme, who is now a fully fledged fireman.

The 20-year-old forward has missed the start of the Knights' season because of fire service training commitments, but he has now passed all his tests and is a qualified firefighter.

Helme has recently returned to training with the Knights and the club are hoping he will be available for selection pretty soon.

THE Supporters' Club will stage a Quiz Knight on Friday, April 23 in the Huntington Stadium bar.

Entry is £1 per person with a maximum of four per team. Top prizes as always will be on offer. Get there 7.30pm for an 8pm start. It is a general knowledge quiz with, according to organiser Phil Seymour, a "bit of everything and the usual fun and games".

FIRST York have again teamed up with the Knights to provide free buses to and from tomorrow's game against Hunslet Hawks.

They will pick up from: Thanet Road Baths 2pm then Stonebow Job Centre 2.15pm; Corner House on Burton Stone Lane 2pm then Lowther Street shops 2.15pm, York Railway Station forecourt 2pm, departing 2.20pm.

Return buses will set off 15 minutes after the final hooter.

National League clubs try-scoring charts

(includes Arriva Trains Cup, Challenge Cup and first round of league matches)

Alex Godfrey (Knights) 13

Richard Newlove (Featherstone) 13

Nick Johnson (Oldham) 13

Mick Nanyn (Whitehaven) 12

Alasdair McLarron (Hull KR) 12

Adrian Flynn (Batley) 11

Neil Turley (Leigh) 11

Craig Walsh (Whitehaven) 10

National League clubs goal-scoring charts (drop goals, in brackets, included in total)

(includes Arriva Trains Cup, Challenge Cup and first round of league matches)

Barry Eaton (Batley) 79(1)

Danny Brough (Knights) 71(1)

Neil Turley (Leigh) 67(2)

Carl Briggs (Featherstone) 56

Mick Nanyn (Whitehaven) 51

Graham Holroyd (Doncaster) 49

Darren Holt (Barrow) 47(1)

Adam Mitchell (Keighley) 38(1)

Jamie Bloem (Halifax) 30(1)

Updated: 11:36 Saturday, April 17, 2004