FORGET the scoreline, the game was better and more two-sided than 40-16 would have one think.

It was also the kind of tough run-out York City Knights needed ahead of their Northern Rail Cup campaign, and, dare it be said, they showed enough to suggest this season might be better than the last two.

A key figure in raising Huntington Stadium hopes is Paul March - as much for his influence as a player as that as head coach.

Yesterday he showed a little of what the Knights have been missing at scrum-half - with guile, know-how, and the ability to fire out a pass or put in a kick at the right times.

His presence will hopefully also help reignite Scott Rhodes. The stand-off might now have the added weight of captaincy, but with creative responsibility now shared, it will hopefully give the 27-year-old crowd favourite a new lease of life.

March, however, was the main man yesterday as he gave his former club, Super League outfit Wakefield, reason to question the wisdom of releasing him - setting up all three of the Knights' tries on his debut.

He showed his class as early as the fifth minute with a perfect grubber behind the sticks for Dave Buckley to pounce.

The Aussie battering ram started the game up front after Danny Ekis pulled out with a hamstring strain, York's pack reshuffle seeing Steve Grundy start at loose-forward.

Buckley, enjoying an immense battle with opposite number Richard Moore, was another big player for York in a game which was not quite the friendliest of friendlies, both sides mixing aggression with good rugby.

Unfortunately, it was marred by injuries to York sub Kyle Palmer, who was forced off one tackle after coming on, and Wakefield's former Knight, Jason Golden, who was stretchered off late on after a collision with the rampaging Buckley.

There was nothing untoward about either incident, though, and, thankfully, Golden was okay. However, in a worrying continuance of the Knights' injury crises of recent seasons, Palmer dislocated a shoulder and will be out for some time. Hopefully, Ekis will play against Leeds next week.

Full-back Danny Ratcliffe, who also impressed, converted Buckley's try and then provided excellent cover defence to force Luke George to err when the Wildcats should have scored. They did score soon after, though, through right centre Aaron Murphy, Brad Drew goaling the first of three excellent conversions.

Former Huddersfield schemer Drew was one of 13 recognised first-teamers on show for the Wildcats.

They brought 22 players in total, three more being in their 25-man first-team squad and the other six being academy youngsters - but they were used only sparingly, meaning the Knights effectively competed with a Super League team for most of the game.

Drew's chip to the left corner saw another first-teamer, George, finish well, although the Popular Stand crowd was sure Lee Mapals had tackled him into touch.

A couple more March grubbers caused concern in the Wakefield rearguard, while winger Matt Danville was dragged into the flag before he could touch down. But York did hit back before half-time through Danville's left-sided partner, Steve Lewis.

Sub Ross Divorty made an immediate impact with an off-load, which saw March dart forward and time his pass for the centre to finish well.

Lewis, prop Mark Applegarth and hooker David March - all playing against their old club - had solid debuts.

Two tries apiece was a fair reflection on first-half proceedings, though to trail 12-10 was probably unfair on York. The second half was even more unfair - perhaps Wakefield's superior fitness from full-time training, as well as two previous friendlies, told in the final quarter.

Their lead increased to 18-10 when Matt Blaymire marked his return to Huntington Stadium by finishing a class move.

York should have scored when Divorty dropped a March pass with the line at his mercy, then Applegarth had a try ruled out by a touch judge - and immediately after that, York suffered a sucker punch when the pacy George sped home on the counter attack, Scott Grix adding the first of his three goals.

Blaymire's lovely pass gave George his hat-trick, Mapals perhaps needing to work on his defence. Then John Oakes was caught out of line for Ryan Atkins to score.

Those three tries in ten minutes were harsh against York, who had thrown the ball about with enterprise and confidence, and could easily have been level pegging.

They got consolation when second-row Rob Kelly forced his way over, March again the supplier, David March goaling, but Wakefield had the last word through Aaron Murphy.

Knights: Ratcliffe, Mapals, Oakes, Lewis, Danville, Rhodes, P March, Applegarth, D March, Buckley, Kelly, Esders, Grundy.

Subs (all used): Leeke, Hughes, Palmer, Bailey, Grimshaw, Divorty.

Wakefield: Blaymire, Grix, Murphy, Atkins, George, Wood, Drew, Sculthorpe, Leo-Latu, Moore, Golden, Pitts, Ferguson.

Subs (all used): MacGillivray, Wilkes, Ferres, Emmett, Walkin, Davey, Morton, Watson, Colleran.

Referee: Ian Smith (Oldham).

Attendance: 1,203.