PLAYER-COACH Paul Broadbent has lauded his players after they put on their 'best-ever attacking display' on a record-breaking day for York City Knights.

His team ran in a club record number of points against National League Two leaders Keighley Cougars at Huntington Stadium yesterday, winning 48-28 in front of the division's record attendance of 1,835.

The stunning victory was tempered by injury to Broadbent and fellow prop Craig Forsyth, who were both stretchered off the field. Broadbent left after 16 minutes with what looked like a severe knee injury, while Forysth suffered a head injury in the second half and was taken to hospital as a precaution. It is not yet known how long both will be out of action.

The Knights had been trailing 10-2 when Broadbent went off but they turned things around in style by inflicting only the second league defeat on Keighley.

"They caught us cold in the early part of the game," admitted Broadbent. "We said all along Jason Ramshaw would be their force and he proved this. But we got our act together and kept him under control to a degree.

"Our guys then produced pretty outstanding stuff. We've shown before that on our day when we apply ourselves and play the kind of rugby we are capable of, we are as good as anybody in the competition. Attacking-wise, we produced our best rugby this season, although defensively we've been better.

"There was a bit of disappointment that we allowed them to score a couple of tries late on but at the end of the day we played some quality rugby. We've got outstanding individuals and they've showed they can unlock any team they come up against.

"We've won five out of six now. The last game (defeat at Chorley) was a blip but that's made us more intent on being consistent.

"We won't be getting carried away and I don't want us thinking we're better than we are as the quality does not come out until you've set a platform.

"We've got to be physically and mentally applying ourselves for it to happen."

Broadbent praised debutants Jonny Woodcock, Leigh Riddell and Kevin Spink, who all impressed, with the former and latter both scoring tries.

"They held themselves very competently," he said. "They did a really solid job for us.

"There's never going to be a time when you're not having to fetch new players in. If you've only got one team, when someone gets a long-term injury you've got to bring someone into the squad. You haven't got a lot of reserves to call on.

"We've had a high turnover of players but bit by bit we're getting a more stable environment and the guys are understanding each other."

As for the new injuries he added: "My left knee turned and it felt like it all clicked out. It's the same knee as I injured at Barrow (seven weeks ago) and I wonder whether it loosened up then.

"I hope I won't be out for long. I thought it was pretty bad at Barrow but it settled down quite quickly.

"It feels more serious this time but we won't know until the swelling goes down and it gets checked out.

"Craig took a bang to the head and he went to the hospital as a precaution."

Updated: 10:52 Monday, July 14, 2003