THE best way to answer critics is to win the next match, and an even better way is to win big. And that’s exactly what York City Knights did yesterday.

They were slammed for their defeat at Doncaster five days earlier, not least for their lack of defensive desire.

But yesterday they didn’t so much bounce back as recoil, rebound and recover – and return to the top of Championship One.

The 72-14 win over an unfortunate Gateshead was marred by a second-half red card for Jon Fallon, but it was marked by a Knights joint-record 12 conversions for Lee Waterman, just reward for a man-of-the-match display of which the only down-point was that he failed to get over the whitewash himself.

The centre has escaped much of the criticism during the Knights’ recent inconsistent performances, as reflected in his being voted the Player of the Month for March by readers of The Press.

And if he continues to show such enthusiasm, power and pace – and that super-strong right-hand fend that keeps defenders at bay as he makes ground down the touchline – then it is not inconceivable that his rise from the amateur game will continue beyond Championship One.

And that’s without even mentioning his goal-shooting.

He will have to overcome being a marked man in games to come – not least in Monday’s tougher task at Blackpool – as few teams will be as cordial as Gateshead were. But he is nevertheless already a chief weapon in the Knights’ armoury.

He and Danny Ratcliffe were the only two backs to avoid the chop after Doncaster. There was a debut for dual-registered Hull winger Dennis Tuffour, who played outside Matty Duckworth, with Tom Lineham back on the other wing.

Tuffour went looking for work, in defence and attack, and capped his display at the start of the second half with a solo try, breaking through in centrefield and outstripping chasers.

His was possibly the best display by a Knights winger this season, until ended by a hamstring tweak.

There was a new half-back combination in Jon Schofield and Joe McLocklan, whose switch from loose-forward did not change his in-form game much.

Danny Hill and Kris Peacock were back in the second row, a rare start for Peacock, and both were well worth recalls.

Jy-Mel Coleman made his competitive debut as replacement hooker, while prop Mark Falkingham made his second appearance, also as substitute. Both were steady enough and error-free.

Prop Alex Benson was also back on the bench, with those making way being crocked duo Chris Thorman and Brett Waller, backs Wayne Reittie, Dan Wilson and Steve Lewis, scrum-half Casey Bromilow, and forwards Mark Applegarth, the rested Jordan Ross and the unavailable John Davies.

York had the first chance, McLocklan’s clever grubber rebounding off an upright, with Jon Fallon fumbling as he tried to pick up and put down.

But they scored moments later as Schofield intercepted on half-way and ran home.

Schofield’s kick in the next set was poor and a penalty for offside took play into York territory, where the defensive flaws so costly at Doncaster were evident again, Matt Barron and hooker Will Bate, whose dancing feet troubled York throughout, putting Thunder ahead.

But McLocklan – quickly becoming York’s go-to man – replied with a solo try after hooker Paul Stamp had timed his pass well, and Gateshead’s defensive line thereafter slowly buckled while York visibly grew in confidence with every try.

Hill broke through and sent in Ratcliffe, and got his personal reward moments later when McLocklan’s outrageous dummy sent the entire stadium one way and he the other to send Hill home.

It got worse for Gateshead as the half-time hooter sounded.

Ryan Clarke was sin-binned for delaying a 20-metre restart, and in the one tackle allowed before the half-time whistle, Waterman went on one of his rampaging runs and, while his inside pass was a bit wild, Schofield wisely let the ball bounce before collecting and scoring.

Schofield completed his hat-trick after Tuffour’s try, again down to Waterman, before Coleman’s chip saw the tall Blakeway rise highest to score, and another McLocklan half-break saw Ratcliffe cross.

Frustrated former Knights prop Tabua Cakacaka hit Hill to start an all-in brawl which resulted in that pair being sin-binned and Fallon sent off for flooring Cakacaka.

Gateshead had the extra man but York made better use of the extra spaces, not least when Stamp’s cross-field run and pass gave teenager Lineham the chance to sprint down the touchline for probably the first time this season.

And, boy, can he sprint fast.

The Pop Stand were still gasping at his blistering pace when McLocklan set up Peacock for his deserved score.

Schofield’s ridiculous dummy then saw Ratcliffe complete his hat-trick, before Michael Brown bagged a last-minute consolation goaled by Kevin Neighbour.

Match facts

Knights: Ratcliffe 8, Tuffour 8, Duckworth 7, Waterman 9, Lineham 7, McLocklan 8, Schofield 8, Fallon 7, Stamp 7, Freer 7, Peacock 8, Hill 8, Blakeway 8. Subs (all used): Falkingham 7, Coleman 7, Clough 8, Benson 7.

Tries: Schofield 6, 40, 47; McLocklan 16; Ratcliffe 27, 56, 75; Hill 30; Tuffour 43; Blakeway 53; Lineham 67; Peacock 70.

Conversions: Waterman 6, 16, 27, 30, 40, 43, 47, 53, 67, 70, 75.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Hill 63.

Sent off: Fallon 63.

Gateshead: Neighbour, O’Sullivan, T Wilson, M Brown, Elliot, Duffy, Ry Clarke, Parker, Bate, Cakacaka, Rh Clarke, Humphries, Barron. Subs (all used): Young, Welton, Cash, Scott.

Tries: Barron 10; Bate 13; M Brown 80.

Conversions: Neighbour 80.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Ry Clarke 40; Cakacaka 63.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Lee Waterman – a constant threat and, while he surprisingly did not add to his try tally, he kicked a Knights record 12 from 12 conversions, just one short of an all-time York RL record.

Referee: Matthew Kidd (Castleford) – some puzzling calls, not least with the unequal cards shown after the second-half brawl.

Penalty count: 10-10.

Weather watch: bit chilly.

Half-time: 30-8.

Attendance: 686.

Moments of the match: Debutant Dennis Tuffour’s solo try, Tom Lineham’s blistering pace for his try, and the choice of the Beatles song “When I’m 64” to play over the speakers when the Knights hit the 64-point mark.