THE records continue to tumble for York City Knights.Paul Broadbent's men posted their biggest-ever win and totalled a club best 66 points at New River Stadium yesterday, eclipsing the 48 they got against Keighley last week, while Danny Brough kicked a club record 11 goals and scored a club record 26 points, just four short of Jamie Benn's all-time York RL record of 30.

The little scrum-half also scored the fastest-ever Knights try and one of the fastest in rugby league history, catching the kick-off, slipping two defenders and sprinting 70 yards to the line. The score was timed at 15 seconds.

On top of that, the impressive Mark Cain scored the Knights' first-ever hat-trick as they recorded their most tries in a match, 11.

There was always going to be a chance York would record their biggest score as hosts London Skolars, in their first season in professional rugby, have proved the National League's whipping boys, losing all but one of their games.

However, the Knights knew not to underestimate the Londoners, with the Skolars' only point having come in the 16-16 draw at Huntington Stadium in May. This time Broadbent's charges were determined not to be shocked again and the final score of 66-6 went some way to putting the record straight.

The Skolars do have problems for on this showing they are unlikely to pick up any more points this season. And although they were always going to struggle in their inaugural year, the way they are shipping in points means they are on the downward spiral; confidence erodes, fewer fans turn up, players get de-motivated, officials get depressed, and so on.

Still, to some extent it had to be expected for the novices and, most importantly, things can get better - just look at York.

The Knights probably had more fans down in London than the old York Wasps had at their last few home games, and the snowball is ever increasing.

A few nerves in the York camp were frayed after three minutes when Ronnie Mushiso cancelled out Brough's opener. And, although Darren Callaghan restored York's advantage soon after when sent in by Scott Rhodes and Neil Law, with Brough adding a penalty, a few eyebrows were re-raised when Skolars again broke through.

But this time Jake Johnstone's try was ruled out for a knock-on, and thereon it was all downhill for the hosts.

Indeed, there seems to be a script the Skolars follow every week. They are in with a shout for the first 25 minutes but the opposition pull away by half-time and run up hefty scores by the final hooter.

York read that same script, with Law, who seems unstoppable whenever the try line is in sight, being sent in by Rhodes on the half-hour for his tenth try in nine games. Skolars then had debutant Roger Teau sin-binned, perhaps harshly, for persistent holding down and the Knights scored three tries in the next ten minutes.

Rhodes sent Cain in for all three of his tries, the first coming on 35 minutes, with the centre then turning provider for Alex Godfrey to score in the corner, staying in touch despite the efforts of two defenders.

Cain got his second just after half-time, finishing an impressive set that started on York's own line, and although London then went back to full strength, it did not prevent Brough bursting through to send quicksilver full-back Jonny Woodcock away.

Referee Steve Addy, so criticised by Knights fans after the defeat at Chorley, again raised a few puzzled looks with some decisions and was again a bit quick with the cards, following up his yellow for Teau with another for York's Leigh Riddell, presumably for persistent interference.

It didn't matter, though, as it was York who came closest to scoring in the next ten minutes. Law just failed with an 80-metre interception attempt, with winger Rob Kama unable to grasp his hopeful pass, while minutes later Kama slipped when straightening up with the line beckoning.

It wasn't too long before the next try did come, Cain completing his excellent hat-trick after the ball had been worked across the pitch, and five minutes later Kama finally got his first touchdown for the club. It was worth the wait.

The Fijian flyer picked up the ball 15 yards from his own line, went left to right, broke through the defence and flew upfield. He then passed out to fellow winger Godfrey and stayed in support to take the return and score.

The champagne rugby continued and, although some things didn't come off, a lot did, with two more tries the end product.

Trevor Krause, having switched to hooker after Lee Jackson was substituted to rest his problematic back, darted from dummy-half before sending the entire crowd one way then the other as he side-stepped past a bemused full-back, and then Kama hurtled down the wing before sending in Woodcock to finish things off in style with his third try in two games for the club.

Match facts:

Skolars: Skolars: Mushiso, Foster, Leef, Johnstone, Oyebade, Dougherty, Honor, Janes, Henare, Smits, McCroary, Ijeoma, Tito.

Subs (all used): Bennett, Hermanson, Teau, McKeown.

Tries: Mushiso 3.

Conversions: Johnstone 3.

Penalties: None.

Drop goal: None.

Sin-binned: Teau 34.

Sent off: None.

Knights:

Woodcock 8, Godfrey 8, Cain 9, Law 8, Kama 8, Rhodes 9, Brough 9, Hayes 8, Jackson 7, Forsyth 8, Ramsden 8, Callaghan 8, Krause 8. Subs (all used): Helme 8, Hallas 6, Spink 7, Riddell 7.

Tries: Brough 1; Callaghan 11; Law 29; Cain 35, 43, 66; Godfrey 38; Wood-cock 46, 79; Kama 71; Krause 77.

Cons: Brough 1, 11, 35, 38, 43, 46, 66, 71, 77, 79.

Penalties: Brough 20

Drop goal: None.

Sin-binned: Riddell 49.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match

Danny Brough - ran very well, kicked very well, scored 26 points.

Referee: Steve Addy (Huddersfield)

Penalty count: 10-9

HT: 6-300

Attendance: 425

Updated: 11:20 Monday, July 21, 2003