IF York City Knights had ended the first half as well as they had the second, then the first victory of a troublesome National League Two campaign would have been on the cards.

Conversely, if they had ended the second as they had ended the first, they would have lost by a landslide.

Player-coach Paul Broadbent must be pulling his hair out in frustration at his side who, on paper, should be pushing for top spot in this division but have now gone four games without a win.

They proved in the last 20 minutes at Cougar Park yesterday what a good team they can be, pressurising the hosts, forcing errors and scoring four tries to Keighley's one to make the scoreline more respectable than it otherwise would have been.

Yet in the last 20 of the first period, they proved what a infuriating team they can be, making mistakes aplenty and gift-wrapping a handful of tries to the hosts with weak tackling.

Keighley, top of the table after four wins from four, hardly needed any help in getting to the try line.

Confidence could well be a factor. The Cougars showed plenty of it to pounce on York's frailties to cross four times in the second quarter and build an unassailable half-time lead, while the Knights, despite a solid opening, let errors creep back into their game.

It was a bit like falling dominoes, with one mistake following another until a gap stopped the rot.

Nevertheless, they showed plenty of bottle to come back into the game and hopefully they will take belief from the way they easily won the second half.

It started well enough as two solid sets ended with Danny Brough attempting an easy drop goal from bang in front. His miss summed up an indifferent kicking game from the half-back who normally wears trusty boots.

But then two penalties took play to the other end where Mark Cain denied Oliver Wilkes with a try-saving tackle only to concede a penalty in a bid to slow down the play-the-ball, Adam Mitchell goaling.

York tried to hit back with Callaghan being forced out, and the centre then had to hit back literally when two opponents ganged up on him. Home hooker Simeon Hoyle was sin-binned but the Cougars were hardly troubled by the man disadvantage as York endured their mad 20 minutes.

David Foster scored on 21 and, just after Hoyle returned, Matt Foster barged through shirt-pulling tackles to cross.

Matt Firth then set up tries for James Rushforth and Matt Foster with a reverse kick and simple pass respectively, the latter after Brough had needlessly conceded penalties for offside and lip. Mitchell converted all four tries for a 26-0 interval lead.

York had lacked options in attack in that first half - or rather their mistakes took options away - but whatever was said in the dressing-room had an immediate effect.

A long pass allowed Neil Law to make a break and feed Leigh Deakin, who juggled the ball before sprinting 35 yards and beating the full-back to the corner. Brough converted superbly.

Some more quality rugby took play back to the Keighley line but Andy Burland ruined his own good work when trying to get away a miracle pass, and the Cougars then played some good stuff of their own to twice extend their lead.

Firstly, Mitchell booted a penalty and then Hoyle crossed from dummy-half to make it 34-6.

York, though, deserve credit for the way they battled back.

Cain reduced the deficit after some pressure when gathering his own deflected grubber, and eight minutes later a great take by David Bolus allowed the ball to be recycled right, then left, for Law to force his way over.

Another fine Firth kick at the other end saw winger Gareth Hewitt touch down but the scorer was then robbed by Law, who sprinted to the corner from half-way, Brough goaling.

In the last minute, Trevor Krause successfully went from dummy-half on a ten-yard diagonal run, with Brough converting to underline York's second half superiority.

Okay, you don't win points for winning second halves but, with more of this and less of the other, the doom and gloom might yet be lifted.

Cougars: Rushforth, Hewitt, D Foster, M Foster, Robinson, Mitchell, Firth, Stephenson, Hoyle, Ekis, Wilkes, Sinfield, Ramshaw. Subs (all used): Wainwright, Helliwell, Mervill, Hannah.

Tries: D Foster 21; M Foster 27, 38; Rushforth 35; Hoyle 52; Hewitt 73. Cons: Mitchell 21, 27, 35, 38, 52. Pens: Mitchell 7, 49.

Drop goals: None. Sin-binned: Hoyle 15.

Knights: Smith 6, Blaymire 6, Law 7, Callaghan 6, Deakin 6, Rhodes 7, Brough 5, Broadbent 7, Krause 6, Hayes 7, Ramsden 6, Fletcher 6, Cain 7. Subs: Molloy 6, Burland 6, Bolus 6. Sub not used: Hallas.

Tries: Deakin 43; Cain 62; Law 70, 76; Krause 79.

Cons: Brough 43, 76, 79.

Pens: None.

Drop goals: None.

Man of the match

Neil Law - two tries for the big centre showing pace and power.

Referee: Steve Nicholson (Whitehaven)

Penalty count: 12-11

HT: 26-0. Attendance: 1,077

Updated: 09:53 Monday, May 12, 2003