IT'S a sign of the times - and a good one at that - when York RL can be disappointed with eight tries and a 54-26 triumph.

That's what the City Knights achieved last night against Gateshead Thunder to lift them back up to second in their Arriva Trains Cup group and therefore into a qualifying spot.

The big victory was also achieved after just three days' rest following their bruising Challenge Cup quarter-final against Super League side Huddersfield - and that 'rest' for most of these part-time professionals entails three days at work and little time for recuperation.

Therefore, to be disappointed in the first place shows how high the Knights' standards are these days.

Take into consideration the fact the Knights provided York's first win at Bootham Crescent since January - sorry, City fans - and on the face of it, it seems churlish to criticise.

However, putting aside the circumstances, it was clearly not the Knights' best performance of the season and it is fair to say they will need to improve and be much more ruthless if they are to progress in the ATC or fulfil their dream of promotion from National League Two.

The ruthlessness that was lacking related to both defence and attack. There was sloppiness, listlessness and perhaps over-confidence in defence, which allowed struggling Gateshead, reduced to 12 men following the 16th-minute sending-off of full-back Graham Stephenson, to score five tries.

And at the other end, bad options, a lack of focus and perhaps over-confidence again saw the Knights blow several chances to rack up an even bigger score. Hopefully, Agar's men won't come to rue those misses should qualification from the ATC Yorkshire group come down to points-difference.

Of course, there are natural excuses. Coach Richard Agar might have shied away from offering any, but tiredness, mental and physical, after the Cup run and the heavy schedule must come into it.

Perhaps complacency, understandable if not permissible, played its part too, especially after the Knights raced 24-0 ahead after just 25 minutes.

They had looked on top form when, from their first attack, Nathan Graham held the ball up well, Danny Brough slung it out left and Mark Cain made good yards before throwing to Alex Godfrey to sprint over for a brilliant try.

Enterprising raids down the other flank then followed and it was no surprise that the next score came from one such break. Lee Jackson led it and although Simon Friend was held just short, Brough timed his pass well to send Ryan Benjefield over.

Straight from the kick-off, Graham charged forward and passed to Cain, who fed Godfrey. And there was to be no catching the flying winger from 30 yards - that is until he touched down and was caught late by full-back Stephenson, who was duly sent off.

Brough added the penalty to finish with seven goals in total, while Damian Ball also booted two conversions after the scrum-half had gone off.

The Knights' fourth try saw Scott Rhodes throw a ridiculous dummy and side-step the stand-in full-back with ease, and it seemed the game was turning into a procession with Gateshead barely getting into the York half.

But then, from their only two real attacks of the half, the visitors scored twice. Steve Bradley got the first after Craig Forsyth had superbly tackled Craig Fisher just short, while Kevin Neighbour got the second after good work by his winger Robin Peers.

Paul Thorman converted both and, rather than rattling up a cricket score, York were only 24-12 ahead at the break.

That lead was extended soon after the interval as Forsyth's bullocking run down the middle opened gaps for Rhodes to exploit, while the Cain-Godfrey partnership on the left flank again paid dividends for the winger - who was brilliant all game - to complete a hat-trick with a quite superb finish.

Brough's dart and give had created that chance, but he was at fault for Gateshead's next try as his loose pass was picked off by Neil Thorman to stroll over, brother Paul converting, and the visitors scored again as Peers did well to touch down after a couple of scrappy kicks through.

Thunder, making a good fist of it, were the better team for periods but York should have added to their advantage before a sharp pass by Rhodes found Ball on the burst. Soon after, Jim Elston fed Seal to go over.

Paul Thorman crossed at the other end with five minutes left and Thunder's efforts perhaps deserved the final word, but that went to the Knights as some more brilliance by Cain - who himself was denied the try he deserved when held up over the line on the hooter - saw fellow centre Chris Langley complete the scoring two minutes from time.

Knights: Graham 7, Kama 6, Langley 6, Cain 8, Godfrey 9, Rhodes 7, Brough 6, Benjefield 7, Jackson 7, Sozi 7, Andrews 7, Ball 6, Friend 7. Subs (all used): Elston 6, Callaghan 6, Seal 6, Forsyth 7.

Tries: Godfrey 2, 16, 49; Benjefield 14; Rhodes 25, 43; Ball 68; Seal 72; Langley 79.

Conversions:

Brough 14, 16, 25, 43, 49, 68; Ball 72, 79.

Penalty: Brough 16.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Thunder: Stephenson, M Kent, Neighbour, Firth, Peers, P Thorman, Fisher, Line, N Thorman, Harrison, Stannard, Bradley, Ruther-ford. Subs (all used): Fleming, Roe, Doherty, M Walker.

Tries: Bradley 29; Neighbour 33; N Thorman 55; Peers 59; P Thorman 75.

Conversions: P Thorman 29, 33, 55.

Penalties: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: Stephenson 16

Man of the match: Alex Godfrey - three fantastic tries, some wonderful raids and excellent defence. A real crowd-pleasing performance.

HT: 24-12

Ref: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).

Rating: Best refereeing performance of the season, I kid you not.

Penalty Count: 12-10

Gamebreaker: York's 24 points in the opening 25 minutes, coupled with Graham Stephenson's red card, meant the game was in the bag and allowed the Knights to drop down a gear or three.

Attendance: 1,520

Weather watch: Clear, crisp evening.

Match rating: Indifferent defence made it an entertaining try-fest as 12-man Gateshead did well to make some sort of game of it.

Updated: 09:58 Thursday, April 01, 2004