MATT Blaymire has refused to lay down targets for York City Knights this season despite starting 2006 on a personal high.

Blaymire scored the Knights' opening try of the year and was named man of the match as they began their pre-season fixtures with a good hit-out against Leeds Rhinos yesterday, albeit in defeat.

He was pleased to "blow off the cobwebs" but said it was too early to make forecasts for the year ahead.

"We haven't talked about the season or any aims," he said. "We know our own capabilities and if we do what we're capable of we should have no problems. But there's been no talk about targets. It's too early."

As for his own display, he added: "It's always good to get a good one in first up and hopefully it will set the tone for the rest of the season."

The full-back said the team's performance was more important than the result - the Knights lost 25-18 having trailed 24-10 at half-time.

"We got a few cobwebs off," he reasoned. "In the first half we were a bit loose around the edges but we tightened up in the second half. We wanted to look at a few things at half-time and improve a few things and we did as the scoreline shows."

He added: "Pre-season has been tough, probably the toughest I've done in a long time, but nothing can prepare you for a game better than actually playing."

Knights boss Mick Cook agreed Blaymire deserved man of the match. He said: "Positionally he was in the right places, he took some difficult kicks, made a couple of try-saving tackles and caused a few problems with the ball."

Updated: 11:19 Monday, January 16, 2006