WHAT a difference a few weeks make.

That was the verdict of player-coach Paul Broadbent after his side turned on the style to hammer Swinton Lions 40-2 at Huntington Stadium yesterday.

The Knights scored seven sensational tries in a breathtaking final 22 minutes to overwhelm the shell-shocked Lions and jump into the play-off places in National League Division Two.

The victory follows on from last week's fine win at Barrow, with both performances being a far cry from the disappointing displays in the Knights' two previous home games against Gateshead and London Skolars.

Broadbent said: "We'd shown in recent games that if you're not playing with confidence you don't often produce the stuff you are capable of. But this proves that in a short space of time you can turn it around.

"There were a few errors and the fatigue element makes a big difference, but the pleasing thing for me was that once we got a couple of tries we started springing to life. It shows what a difference a couple of weeks make.

"Up until two weeks ago we were struggling in the league and we had not played anything like what we're capable of. I still think we are capable of a lot more and as soon as we put together an 80-minute package the better we will be."

The Knights had scored only two penalties to Swinton's one before the tries started to flow, but Broadbent reckoned those first 58 minutes had set the platform for the points avalanche that followed. Chris Smith and Matt Blaymire both crossed twice, with Neil Law adding his fifth try in three games, Alex Godfrey scoring on his return from injury and Graeme Hallas also getting over the whitewash.

"I think the guys reaped the rewards after showing a great deal of resilience when we had a lot of defending to do," Broadbent said.

"It was a really hot day but things came back really well for us. We got a bit better ball control and we showed the sort of standard we're capable of playing.

"The pleasing thing was that even when things were not going our way we still stopped them scoring. They are a good outfit but our guys fronted up well and gave them a hard time. The guys deserve a pat on the back for the way they turned themselves around.

"Hopefully we've turned that corner and we can now kick on again and become a competitive force on a weekly basis.

"I'm not nave enough to think it will be all sweetness and roses from here on in but if we can produce consistency we will get out of the game what we're looking for."

Updated: 11:20 Monday, June 02, 2003