THE pre-match team talk among the Blue camp last night was probably not too dissimilar to the one 24 hours earlier.

"Okay, we're not going to win, but let's see if we can cause a stir in a few safe seats, maybe win a few points and, above all, do ourselves proud."

York City Knights' second goal was not quite achieved at an emotive Knowsley Road, but the other two certainly were, especially the latter - on the pitch and terraces alike.

The fact St Helens leader Ian Millward was away embroiled in his own controversial war probably hindered the Reds' cause but there was never any doubt the trophy-holders would be safely returned to the sixth round.

The only thing in question was the margin of victory, and at 62-0, each party, just like 24 hours earlier, could glean positives.

St Helens were comfortably through to brighten an otherwise fractious week, while the Knights, although nilled, made a decent game of it, fared better than Super League sides Wakefield and Leigh against Saints this season, and gave their vociferous party faithful further reason for optimism as they now refocus their attentions on National League Two.

York's previous victory at Knowsley Road was almost as long ago as the last Liberal Government, and the margins have increased so much since then that many bookies didn't bother offering odds for a Saints win, while the Knights were given a 56-point start on the handicap.

Mick Cook's men, however, had already achieved success in this year's Challenge Cup, again going further than any other NL2 team, and they were also afforded great respect by their hosts.

Saints caretaker boss Dave Rotheram - in charge while Millward fights his club disciplinary charges - went with an almost full-strength team, barring rested trio Vinnie Anderson, Jamie Lyon and Nick Fozzard, thus fielding a side littered with eight internationals.

How the controversy surrounding Millward affected that side was hard to tell, but it certainly fired up their fans, who demonstrated long into the night in support of the suspended coach.

However, the plentiful Knights supporters who made the arduous journey across the Pennines were not to be outdone by their Super League peers and seemingly got louder with each Saints try.

The first came after three minutes as man of the match Paul Anderson bulldozed through, little Jimmy Elston being unable to stop the 19-stone prop having been hurriedly thrown on at the unaccustomed role of full-back for the crocked Jon Liddell, who took no further part in the game.

The swing-o-meter that was referee Colin Morris' arm didn't help York either, a controversial penalty setting the position for Ade Gardner to cross in the corner.

Saints were looking unstoppable, but the Knights demonstrated the traditional values of old labour - hard work, guts and enthusiasm - plus a little of the new labour guile to force St Helens into a few sloppy errors and play a bit themselves.

The hosts, however, defended stoically and always looked threatening and, after Matt Blaymire - who impressed again back at full-back in the post-Liddell reshuffle - led York's best attack of the half, two quick counter-attacks saw Sean Long and Paul Wellens cross.

York came closest when Scott Rhodes' clever grubber on to a post saw Wellens just beat Lee Paterson to the touchdown, but again Saints twice hit back through Ian Hardman and Jason Hooper in the corners for a 30-0 half-time lead.

The worsening downpour hindered both sides until Hooper dug in from dummy-half to signal four tries in eight minutes as the tiring York defence was repeatedly punched down the middle and stretched out wide by the powerful, pacy full-timers.

Jon Wilkin, Darren Albert and James Graham all crossed but the Knights never stopped and, when the hosts hit the 50-point mark, the travelling faithful responded with a relentless, rousing rendition of club anthem "We're York and we're proud of it" which continued throughout the final 22 minutes, unstopped by Long and Hardman tries, and which inspired the mesmerised home fans to get louder themselves in their pro-Millward protest, which altogether created an extraordinary atmosphere.

Match facts

Powergen Challenge Cup

Fifth round

Friday, May 6, 2005

at Knowsley Road

Knights: Liddell 6, Blaymire 8, Potter 7, Law 7, Fox 8, Rhodes 7, Levy 7, Smith 7, Jackson 7, Sullivan 7, Callaghan 8, Kirke 8, Paterson 7. Subs (all used): Elston 8, Ramsden 7, Bates 7, Sozi 7.

Tries: None.

Conversions: None.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Saints: Wellens, Hardman, Albert, Gilmour, Gardner, Hooper, Long, Anderson, Cunningham, Mason, Wilkin, Bennett, Sculthorpe. Subs (all used): Higham, Edmondson, Fa'asavalu, Graham.

Tries: Anderson 3; Gardner 6; Long 21; Wellens 23; Hardman 33, 68; Hooper 36, 50; Wilkin 54; Albert 56; Graham 58; Long 66.

Conversions: Long 3, 6, 23, 50, 54, 66, 68.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None. Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Peter Fox - showed why he has aspirations of getting into Super League with a fine all-round performance. Wonderful cover tackles, safe under the kicks and threatened the Saints line whenever he took the ball up.

Referee: Colin Morris (Huddersfield). Rating: Could have been worse.

Penalty count: 3-3.

HT: 30-0.

Gamebreaker: The two early tries meant no home worries.

Attendance: 6,640.

Weather watch: blowy with persistent, heavy rain.

Match rating: A good test and a great occasion for the York lads to play against one of the best club sides in the world in a meaningful match, while the fans helped to create a wonderful atmosphere.

First published Saturday 7th May 2005.