JAMES RATCLIFFE praised the much-improved work ethic in his York City Knights team as they returned to winning ways in devastating fashion – with points-machine Lee Waterman equalling a club record to boot.

The Knights bounced back from their disappointment at Doncaster with a 72-14 thrashing of Gateshead at Huntington Stadium, which took them back to the top of Championship One, albeit having played more games than their main rivals.

Those rivals include Blackpool, who easily saw off London Skolars yesterday to maintain their 100 per cent record, and whom the Knights visit on Bank Holiday Monday in their biggest test of the season.

Ratcliffe’s men should go to the Lancashire coast re-galvanised not only by their 12-try show – which brought Waterman a Knights’ joint record 12 conversions – but also by the probable return of big prop Brett Waller and possible return of player/assistant-coach Chris Thorman, both of whom sat out yesterday due to injury.

Ratcliffe said improvements were still needed but was buoyed by their greater enthusiasm.

“We’ve gone in the right direction and that’s the main thing,” he said. “We’re not where we need to be if we want to challenge for honours, but we’ve certainly gone in the right direction.

“Work ethic are words I keep using and we showed a good work ethic yesterday.

“We had a very simple game-plan and the players stuck to it and got the result.

“I’ve said to them if they stick to the game-plan and it goes wrong, it’s my fault. If they don’t stick to it and it goes wrong, it’s their fault. Yesterday they stuck to it and got what they deserved.”

The Knights had trailed 8-6 early on due to two quick-fire Thunder tries.

Ratcliffe said: “If you play with a lack of confidence you can get edgy on your own try-line, but we showed resolve. We’ve improved in our defence and it’s something we need to keep working on over the next four or five weeks.”

Waterman collected The Press Player of the Month award before kick off and went on to give a man-of-the-match display at centre, capped by his 100 per cent record with the boot which took him clear in the Championship One goal-scoring and point-scoring charts, with 27 and 72 respectively.

He was not the only player to be commended by Ratcliffe, though, with Joe McLocklan, who switched to stand-off in Thorman’s stead, among those earning praise.

Full-back Danny Ratcliffe also went top of the league’s try-scoring charts with his hat-trick taking him to seven from five games. Scrum-half Jonathan Schofield also got a hat-trick on his return to the line-up.

“Lee’s a good kid,” said Ratcliffe.

“If he carries on working and keeps listening, he’s got a decent future. It’s happened to a number of players, though, where they start believing their own press, so it’s important he doesn’t get carried away.

“Joe’s a quality player. He’s probably one of the best hookers outside Super League and he’s got the ability to play in a number of positions.

“He showed his quality again, mixing his play and setting players up and putting people through all game.

“But we need to make hard yards before we start playing rugby and the pack laid the foundations really well, for the likes of Jonny and Danny to get the points.”

Ratcliffe reckoned Kris Peacock’s performance following his promotion from the reserves was such that he could keep his place for Monday, while captain Richard Blakeway “probably had his best game this season”.

The Knights chief added: “I think the win as a whole, regardless of who the opposition were, was good for the club.”

Dennis Tuffour marked his debut with a try and fellow winger Tom Lineham celebrated his recall with a blistering 50-metre finish.

Ratcliffe joked: “I think I would’ve scored Tom’s try if I was 20 years younger.”

A preview to the Blackpool game will be carried in Monday’s edition of The Press.