IT was a case of many happy returns for York City Knights at Rams Stadium yesterday.

Coach Richard Agar led seven former Dewsbury stars back to their old ground, and the six on the pitch helped York to a stunning 58-16 Arriva Trains Cup success.

Indeed, five of those six ex-Rams scored tries, while one of them, Danny Brough, who hails from just round the corner, added nine goals for a 22-point haul.

Ironically, the one former Ram who didn't get a try, Scott Rhodes, still made a mark in the stats box by getting sin-binned, though his contribution was otherwise impressive.

Nevertheless, it was half-back partner Brough who stole the show with a virtuoso performance. He had a hand in several of York's ten tries, while the diversity of his kicks and passes continually bewildered his former team-mates.

It wasn't a day just for the ex-Dewsbury clan, however, as Ugandan-born prop Yusuf Sozi scored his first try and Aussie import Simon Friend his second for the Knights, while ex-Great Britain hooker Lee Jackson crossed twice for his first points of the season and Daz Callaghan notched his obligatory try and again proved his utility value.

With Mark Cain, the Knights' other ex-Ram, missing due to a knee problem, second-row Callaghan had to switch to centre for hamstring injury victim Chris Langley, and he impressed in both roles. It was also his try five minutes into the second half which signalled the destruction of the home team.

York had won the first half 18-10 and went on to rack up a 50-point away haul for the second time in two weeks, with this one being more notable than last week's at Gateshead.

Dewsbury had stuffed Sheffield - the Knights' Challenge Cup foes next week - seven days earlier and had a new-found confidence under caretaker coach David Mycoe. They are also one of the favourites, along with York, to win promotion from National League Two.

What will happen to their odds now is up to William Hill, though it would of course be foolish to write anybody off on the basis of one result.

Talking of bookies, it would have paid to take them on yesterday as there were only six points in it according to the handicapper - and York were six points to the good after just six minutes.

Callaghan dealt superbly with a lucky ricochet to win another six tackles and Rhodes' switch pass saw Ball get over. Ball later had a second try ruled out for an apparent double movement before limping off with a back problem.

Dewsbury hit back when Mick Senior dummied to find a gap to the corner, with Adam Thaler, one of Dewsbury's two former Knights, adding his first of two conversions. But York were soon back in front.

Good drives by Friend and Chris Smith - he and fellow winger Alex Godfrey made several fine surges - took play to Dewsbury's ten-yard line, where Jim Elston, back as an impact player, sent a defender into the stands with a dummy and nipped over.

Dan Briggs dropped the restart but made amends when he helped prevent Darren Robinson scuttling over from acting-half. Robinson, the Rams' other ex-Knight, was then penalised for kicking out, and it soon got worse as his afternoon ended half an hour into the game.

Wayne McHugh scored a length-of-the-pitch interception try after pinching Rhodes' pass, but the home cheers quickly halted as Robinson, who had left York last year in controversial circumstances, landed horribly when challenging for the short restart and had to be helped from the field with concussion - and derision from a few former team-mates.

A Brough penalty for off-side upped the lead, and he was to the fore again on the stroke of half-time as his superb pass found Callaghan, whose quick hands sent Godfrey away to cut inside the cover and become the fourth player to score against his former club.

The fifth ex-Ram to cross was full-back Nathan Graham, though by the time of his 72nd-minute try, which capped his best display in a Knights' shirt, the game was already up.

Brough chipped the defensive line, collected and sent Callaghan away with a great long pass to get the second-half scoring underway, and then - after Rhodes and Senior were sin-binned for fighting - played a one-two with Jackson for the latter to cross with a move straight off the training ground.

Brough then combined with Graham to see Friend burst over, and Sozi blasted and spun through two tackles before sprinting 20 yards for the next try.

Kevin Crouthers replied but Dewsbury's afternoon got worse as Senior was stretchered off with a bad leg injury.

Jackson soon finished a 40-yard move, then Graham charged over, and Brough deservedly rounded off the try-scoring when he was first to his own diagonal chip to score a 40-yarder.

Brough among others received a bit of stick from the home fans - but all they had to do in response was point to the scoreboard. And, anyway, the visiting fans were much noisier.

Match facts:

Arriva Trains Cup (group stage)

Sunday, February 22, 2004

at Rams Stadium

Rams: Preece, Webber, McHugh, Kirke, Waddle, Senior, A Thaler, Hicks, Robinson, Ward, Thewliss, Spears, Crouthers. Subs (all used): Redfearn, Kershaw, P Smith Booth.

Tries: Senior 19; McHugh 30; Crouthers 60.

Conversions: Thaler 19, 60.

Penalties: None

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Senior 50.

Sent off: None.

Knights: Graham 8, C Smith 8, Langley 7, Wood 8, Godfrey 8, Rhodes 9, Brough 8, Benje-field 8, Jackson 8, Sozi 8, Callaghan 8, Friend 8, Ball 8. Subs (all used): Elston 8, Ramsden 8, Briggs 7, Forsyth 8.

Tries: Ball 6; Elston 24; Godfrey 40; Callaghan 44; Jack-son 47, 70; Friend 51; Sozi 56; Gra-ham 72; Brough 78.

Conversions: Brough 6, 24, 44, 47, 56, 70, 72, 78.

Penalties: Brough 37.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Rhodes 50.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match:

Danny Brough - magical return to his home-town team, and a 22-point haul, for the little wizard.

HT: 10-18

Ref: Andy Leonard (Halifax).

Rating: His ten yards were shorter than mine, but otherwise okay.

Penalty Count: 8-10

Game breaker: Daz Callaghan's try signalled a second-half procession.

Attendance: 848

Weather watch: like being in the Arctic. Summer rugby anyone?

Match rating: one-sided second half, with York fans virtually making it a home game.

Updated: 12:01 Monday, February 23, 2004