MARK Applegarth was delighted to see York Knights keep out Whitehaven, describing their 40-0 triumph as a "tough, gritty win."

Nikau Williams stole the headlines as he marked his 100th career appearance with a hat-trick and five goals against his former side, whilst Wakefield loanee Joe Law recorded a three-minute brace during the first half.

Props Brenden Santi and Jack Martin also added their names to the scoresheet as the Knights maintained their push for the Betfred Championship play-offs with just a second win in six attempts at the Ortus Rec.

But Whitehaven, able to name 17 players, did have their moments and were unlucky not to have scored a consolatory try through Lachlan Hanneghan late on.

“It’s a sign of a team that’s going in the right direction because you’re going to have to learn to win games like that and see them out,” enthused Applegarth as the Knights kept a third clean sheet under his tutelage.

“In a weird kind of way, I was happy as a coach that we’ve had to think on the spot and learn how to deal with a bit of adversity when a few decisions go against you and we’re not finishing sets how we want to.

“As long as you’re willing to front up and defend your errors, such as we did there, it’s a pleasing sign. I’m really happy in that sense.

“I think it was a tough, gritty win. The scoreline’s finished 40-0, but it was a tough day at the office today, which probably isn’t reflected in the scoreline.”

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York needed just five minutes to open the scoring in Cumbria, with AJ Towse breaking away down the right wing before unselfishly passing back inside to Williams.

The half-back could not convert but did add a further two points from the tee just before the quarter-hour to extend the visitors’ lead.

Play turned increasingly scrappy for the 20 minutes that followed as Whitehaven showed that they still had plenty of fight despite their league position and financial predicament, however, their floodgates well and truly opened shortly before the interval.

Brad Ward batted back Ata Hingano’s cross-field chip for Law to touch down on the left edge, and the young centre had his second just three minutes later, having sold Curtis Teare a dummy after neat hands along the line.

There was still time for Williams to dance his way through the home defence before the break as the Knights took in a 20-0 advantage.

It took less than a minute after the restart for Santi to score the Knights’ fifth try after crashing over from close range, with Williams then slotting over another penalty after Will Jubb – who moved second in the club’s all-time appearance makers – had been caught high.

Whitehaven again applied a period of pressure but were undone twice more in the final 10 minutes.

Martin won the race to his own grubber before Williams dived across the line and through a sea of bodies to complete his hat-trick inside the final minute.

Jubb then rounded off the scoring from the tee as he marked his own milestone.

There was cause for celebration as the Knights kept a third clean sheet under Applegarth.There was cause for celebration as the Knights kept a third clean sheet under Applegarth. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography)

But whilst his side added another 40 points to their tally, Applegarth was most impressed with their defensive capabilities.

“The zero is the most pleasing,” he admitted.

“We got a good defensive work-out to be fair. I know the scoreline’s finished 40-0 but there were a couple of periods in that game where it was really nip and tuck.

“I thought that we started well and then there was that period from minute 10 to minute 30 where it got a little bit scrappy. It was the same again in the second half, we started really well, but I don’t think we finished a set in their half for about 15 or 20 minutes.

“I’m really happy with how the lads have gone about their business today. It’s a credit to the character within the group to keep a team that are desperate like Whitehaven to 0, but to also to put 40 points on them.

“It was a good day at the office for us.”