WATH Brow Hornets' shock defeat of Dewsbury Rams on Saturday was proof enough that amateur teams cannot be underestimated in the Powergen Challenge Cup.

York City Knights, duly warned by that result, were not to fall foul of such a jolt, however, as they saw off Halifax outfit Elland 50-12 at Huntington Stadium yesterday.

It was comprehensive enough if not overwhelming. The Knights had three spells in the match when they scored two or three tries in rapid succession and in those times they were pretty ruthless.

National League rivals would not have given them quite as many holes to find, but some of their attacking play was nevertheless incisive and dangerous.

At other times, however, they were again too loose and lacking in consistency and were made to work hard by a team who showed unstinting enthusiasm throughout and for certain spells, albeit short ones, gleaned a level of ascendancy.

At least in those times Mick Cook's men showed enough professionalism and desire in defence to maintain a strong sense of supremacy.

Much of that superiority was down to the opening 13 minutes, which proved unlucky enough for the West Yorkshiremen.

It is pretty important that the professional teams do not give the amateurs any encouragement early on and, in that respect, the Knights could not have done things any better.

Peter Fox's incredible solo try in only the second minute must have not only showed Elland what they were up against but also dented their confidence.

The amateurs ended a decent opening set of six tackles with a good enough chip into the Knights' ten-yard zone, only for winger Fox to catch the ball, shrug off two tackles, find a gap and sprint the length of the field.

John Smith, who had already missed one gilt-edged chance, then doubled the lead on ten minutes, set up by Jim Elston, and when impressive centre Calvin Watson crossed three minutes later, the game as a contest was effectively up.

After such a punishing start, Elland deserve credit for not going to pieces and instead making a game of it, and, after they went close when Hunslet Hawks-bound Andy Shickell was held up over the line, scrum-half Adam Oldroyd got them on the scoreboard with a penalty.

But York reclaimed the ascendancy and Lee Jackson made amends for a missed opportunity close to the sticks when his brilliantly-timed long pass enabled Fox to charge through for his second.

Elland, perhaps finding the pace too quick, laid on in the tackle a bit too much for young ref Matthew Thomason's liking, with Dean Bishop being the unlucky one sin-binned.

But York could not make the most of the extra man before half-time and indeed Elland got on top as the game turned scrappy.

The Knights needed to defend after the interval and were finally breached when, after Matt Blaymire fumbled a grubber close to his own line - his first blunder of the season - Bishop got a deserved try.

York needed someone to retake command and substitute Scott Rhodes immediately stepped forward, the stand-off scoring a wonderful trademark try, running the arc from a scrum and sprinting home from 40 yards.

Straight after, Blaymire - who looked good joining the attack - slipped a tackle and sent Paul Thorman in.

The second yellow card for Elland, again for persistent holding down, this time for second-row Shickell, proved more critical than the first as, with the amateurs' legs tiring, York punished them with three tries in the ensuing ten minutes.

Darren Callaghan finished well from Paul Thorman's pass, Rhodes' superb break was finished by Elston, and Blaymire's brilliance sent Neil Thorman to the posts.

Elland deservedly got the last try, though, when a complacent Lee Jackson pass was picked off by Bishop - Jackson was not the first Knight to have a pass intercepted - and the centre showed excellent pace to the line.

Elland 12, Knights 50

Elland: Taylor, Brocklehurst, Bishop, Fairbank, Holmes, H Bailey, Oldroyd, M Schickell, Shaw, M Bailey, Chapman, A Schickell, Shackleton. Subs (all used): Gray, Walton, Wood, Horsfall.

Tries: Bishop 51, 77. Conversions: Oldroyd 51. Penalties: Oldroyd 18. Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Bishop 31; A Shickell 66. Sent off: None.

Knights: Blaymire 7, Fox 7, Watson 7, Callaghan 6, Ross 6, N Thorman 7, P Thorman 6, Sullivan 7, Elston 7, Buckenham 6, Smith 6, Kirke 7, Cain 6. Subs (all used): Rhodes 7, Jackson 6, Sozi 6, Forsyth 6.

Tries: Fox 2, 25; Smith 10; Watson 13; Rhodes 54; P Thorman 57; Callaghan 69; Elston 71; N Thorman 74.

Cons: Ross 2, 10, 54, 57, 69, 71, 74.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Matt Blaymire - joined the attacking line well and, one fumble aside, was not unduly troubled at the back.

HT: 2-20

Referee: Matthew Thomason (Warrington). Rating: You could see why he isn't yet a Grade One referee, but he's only 22 so has plenty of time to improve.

Penalty count: 7-12

Gamebreaker: York's three early tries ensured there would be no shock.

Attendance: 930

Weather watch: Sunny but pretty nippy.

Match rating: The early tries made sure there would be no major tension and it was a bit scrappy at times, but there was enough to keep you entertained. And full credit to Elland for keeping on taking the game to York.

Updated: 10:14 Monday, March 14, 2005