ALEX Godfrey has lauded the York City Knights following for turning Sunday's match at Dewsbury "into a home game".

The 25-year-old winger scored a try against his former club as the Knights stormed to a 58-16 win to go top of the Arriva Trains Cup Yorkshire group and become the leading points-scorers in the entire competition with 136 from the opening three games.

And he reckoned the fans again played their part in a triumphant trip. "I thought our fans really deserved a pat on the back," he told the Evening Press. "They were brilliant again.

"They were like that last year, following the team all over the place. They've outnumbered the home fans and have been more vocal and really played their part.

"When we scored a try they all chanted for the scorer to wave and if you don't they boo, which is great fun.

"And when there's 1,000 people or 500 or even 100 people shouting your name, it definitely gives you a lift. I hope the fans all realise it helps and we appreciate it."

Godfrey also revealed he was defended by the Knights faithful whenever the Rams supporters had a pop at him.

He said: "I got a bit of stick from the crowd in the second half but as soon as our fans heard it they started giving it back and supporting us even more, and it really made a difference."

The winger was one of five former Rams to score a try against their former club, his try coming at the end of the first half.

"Darren (Callaghan) has moved to centre and got in a lot of space with a two-on-one and he put me in," he said. "I had to cut inside the defender but still got the try, which is always good against a former club."

The Knights will now turn their attentions to Sunday's Powergen Challenge Cup tie at Sheffield Eagles (KO 3.15pm).

The Eagles lost 42-18 to Dewsbury in the ATC nine days ago but bounced back to beat London Skolars 34-6 on Sunday.

Godfrey said: "The Challenge Cup is always exciting. Dewsbury beat Sheffield last week but it's going to be hard to judge.

"Sheffield won it in 1998 - they were a much different team then, obviously - and Mark Aston (Eagles coach, who played in that shock Wembley victory over Wigan) knows how to turn it on when it comes to the big games, so we will have to be tuned in."

Wigan will play five of their opening seven Super League matches away from home after agreeing to switch their April 4 fixture with Huddersfield to the McAlpine Stadium, which is unavailable later in the year. The clubs will now meet at the JJB Stadium on June 13.

Updated: 10:49 Tuesday, February 24, 2004