YORK City Knights RL chairman Roger Dixon could not contain his delight yesterday after the Knights recorded their first-ever win on home soil.

York came from 20-8 down early in the second half to beat Doncaster Dragons 34-20 in an Arriva Trains Cup thriller at Huntington Stadium.

The victory - which followed the Knights first-ever win over professional opposition, 32-12 at Sheffield Eagles, last week - avenged two defeats to the Dragons last month, and marked more major landmarks for the new club.

As well as being the Knights' first home win, it was their first win over opposition from a higher division and the first time for just under three years that York RL had recorded back-to-back victories.

Dixon said: "I'm delighted for the players and for the fans, and I'm delighted for everyone who's had a part to play in giving us something special to cheer."

The ardent fan also admitted to being 'emotionally drained'. "It was a great match and it's been a great day," he added.

Player-coach Paul Broadbent refused to go overboard in the wake of the victory, saying the Knights were not the finished article.

"We're getting there," said Broadbent, whose side's two ATC victories coincide with the former Great Britain prop's arrival in the starting line-up after injury.

"But I still think there's quite a bit more in us yet. We're not playing to our maximum potential by any means. When we put together the full 80 minutes we will certainly be causing teams serious problems."

He continued: "We're showing signs of producing some quality stuff. That first half was a real test of character for us. We spent a lot of time camped on our line, it was a real drainer, but the guys showed great endeavour and came through with flying colours. They managed to turn it around in the second half and that is of real credit to them."

Doncaster had a man sent off on half-time but Broadbent said: "We did not make an issue of the extra man but instead tried to concentrate on what had let us down in the first half, which was getting field position. When we started to get it right we looked a totally different outfit."

He also said that while the "rags to riches to rags" slur - which was written about the Knights in a Doncaster match programme - did not go down well with the players, revenge was not an issue.

"I think the players get annoyed with stuff like that," he said. "It was only a few years ago that Doncaster were in a rebuilding situation but people soon forget about it when you've got round the corner. But at the end of the day we got on with playing our rugby.

"Whatever team you're up against, there's a personal pride thing. It's not about revenge but about wanting to perform to the maximum of your potential."

Updated: 11:17 Monday, March 17, 2003