THRIVING three-quarter Chris Langley is set to finish the 2004 season atop the try-scoring charts at York City Knights - but says he would give back every single one if it meant they could get promotion.

The 23-year-old centre has racked up 20 touchdowns in 32 games so far this season to head the try-scoring list at Huntington Stadium by three from Jim Elston with one or, hopefully, two games to come.

But while being proud of the achievement, he was quick to appreciate the bigger picture.

"To be top of the charts at this stage of the season is a fantastic achievement but you don't get there on your own. It's thanks to the quality of the players you play with," he said.

"I've been fortunate to get over quite a few times and obviously I'm really pleased to be top, but on the same note I would like to give all that back if we can get promotion.

"It's always nice to finish the season with 20 tries but more important is winning this weekend against Workington and getting to the Grand Final and winning that."

He added: "I've been having a bit of a battle with Jimmy Elston. We've been giving each other a ribbing about it and I would like to think I can keep him at bay, but all eyes are on this weekend."

Tries have come from all over the park this season, though it is perhaps significant that the next three top-scorers have been in pivotal positions, namely Elston at hooker and the half-backs, Danny Brough and Scott Rhodes.

It would have been interesting to see, however, just how many Alex Godfrey would have finished with if his season hadn't been cut short, likewise fellow winger Austin Buchanan had he been at the club from the start of the year.

Godfrey finished with 14 tries from 14 appearances, and Buchanan so far has 11 from 14.

It is perhaps notable that last year's joint-top try-scorers, Darren Callaghan and Trevor Krause, managed only 14 in comparison throughout the season, a figure matched or bettered by five players this term.

Callaghan finds himself down in ninth place this season. He had been up with the leaders midway through the campaign but the last of his nine tries came as long ago as May.

Updated: 10:13 Saturday, October 02, 2004