HE got a hat-trick at Gateshead on Bad Friday' and he lit up yesterday's 40-18 win over London Skolars with a mesmeric individual try.

For all the clouds shrouding the Knights' patchy form, George Rayner has been a constant bright light and his 50-metre effort yesterday was further evidence of why he was brought to Huntington Stadium.

Taking the ball on a good angle from Dan Potter, the full-back brushed aside tackler after tackler, switching the ball from hand to hand, before sliding into a hole and sprinting home.

Okay, the defending was questionable but it was a moment of magic that lifted the spirits and gave the quiet crowd something to shout about.

To be fair, it was a game that needed brightening, but at least this time the Knights, albeit without playing overly well, did what was required against inferior opposition to get their first win in National League Two.

After the horrible opening-day defeat on Friday, a home game against the Skolars, one of the weaker teams in the competition, wasn't a bad one to follow-up with as it gave Mick Cook's men a good chance to find winning form.

Still, they will have to play better to maintain winning ways for any length of time.

The longer they went without an opening score, the more agitated the fans got. But when it came on 17 minutes, followed by a quick second, the frustration eased and in the end it was the kind of routine win York should have secured on Friday.

Both sides had early tries ruled out, York's Rob Spicer for a forward pass and London winger Johnny Williams for a foot in touch.

York also should have scored when Ian Brown sprinted through but he didn't seem to see Lee Lingard on his outside with just the full-back to beat.

There was no mistake with the next chance as Scott Rhodes' little short-side pass put Dan Potter into a gap and he fed player of the month Lee Mapals to open the scoring.

Winger Lingard booted the first of his six conversions having taken on goal-kicking duties from the crocked Jamaine Wray.

The hooker had to sit it out after picking up a shoulder injury at Gateshead on Friday, but he says he will be fit to face his former club, Hunslet, next week.

John Smith and Chris Spurr were also out after their injuries on Friday, but at least the fears surrounding Spurr's ankle knock have abated and he too hopes to be fit for Hunslet.

There was further good news regarding injuries with Potter and Spicer both returning, along with hard-working man of the match Ryan Esders in the back row. Elsewhere, Andy Gargan was left out, with Jonny Liddell switching to scrum-half and Spicer into his usual role at loose-forward, while the Spurr family was still represented as Mark made his competitive debut, doing okay as a replacement hooker.

It was a York old boy who unwittingly set up York's next score. Paul Thorman, now the Skolars captain, put in an attacking kick, but second-row Dave Buckley closed it down and somehow caught it on the full before sprinting 80 metres to the other end.

Then came Rayner's wonder try, while Spicer got the touchdown he deserved from a Rhodes pass, which this time wasn't called forward. However, York were caught sleeping by a quick restart and London benefited as a quick pass from dummy-half put in winger Dene Miller.

The hosts' 24-4 half-time increased with a 60-metre interception try by Potter, who read the play expertly, but Skolars came more into the game, aided by a growing penalty count, and some poor decision-making in possession by York.

They scored through prop Alan Barker from a grubber kick. Then Miller got a superb second from broken play and, at 28-14 with a quarter to go, edginess was growing again on the terraces.

However, Tabua Cakacaka, back on the pitch, settled nerves when powering over from close range after good handling and, although Corey Simms came onto the wing for London and scored with his first touch, York had the last word as Esders blasted through from Rhodes' pass.


Match facts

Co-op National League Two Easter Monday, April 9, 2007 at Huntington Stadium

Knights: Rayner 7, Mapals 6, Potter 6, Brown 6, Lingard 7, Rhodes 7, Liddell 6, Cakacaka 6, Elston 7, Sullivan 7, Buckley 6, Esders 7, Spicer 7. Subs (all used) M Spurr 6, Priestley 6, Williams 6, Helme 7.

Tries: Mapals 17, Buckley 20, Rayner 27, Spicer 35, Potter 44, Cakacaka 66, Esders 78.

Conversions: Lingard 17, 20, 27, 35, 66, 78.

Penalties: None. Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None. Sent off: None.

Skolars: Webster, Miller, Shears, Kerr, Williams, Pittman, Thorman, Barker, Honor, Louw, Price, Castle, Coleman. Subs (all used) Reid, Simms, Benson, Unwin.

Tries: Miller 38, 62, Barker 541, Simms 73.

Conversion: Thorman 51. Penalties: None. Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None. Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Ryan Esders - worked very hard in defence and attack, and showed the kind of controlled fight that the team lacked on Good Friday.

Referee: Thierry Alibert (France).

Rating: OK, though he ignored dodgy above the horizontal' tackles.

Penalty count: 4-11.

HT: 24-4.

Gamebreaker: Tabua Cakacaka's 66th-minute try made sure there would be no late jitters in the home camp.

Moment of the match: George Rayner's marvellous solo try, scything through the defence.

Attendance: 1,074.

Weather: Breezy.

Match rating: Three points.