THIRTEEN minutes into York City Knights’ League One clash with South Wales Scorpions, it was looking like all the off-field strife at the club was finally taking its toll.

Two knock-ons, a needless penalty and a seemingly lethargic attitude, allied to two dropouts and some constructive Scorpions attacks, meant the entire game was being played in York territory.

Were James Ford’s troops drained? Were they suffering a comedown hangover from the highs of last week’s fun-filled Challenge Cup tie at Super League champions St Helens?

Were they struggling to contend with the injuries and changes in personnel, including five alterations to the side that had so impressed against Saints, and the introduction of two debutants – stand-off Jordan Howden and replacement hooker Scott Glassell - in key playmaking positions?

Were they about to suffer a shock defeat to bottom-of-the-table strugglers?

Were they heck as like.

Ford’s charges scored in their first attack, 14 minutes in, and went on to bag five more before half-time for a 32-0 interval lead – each try seemingly being better than the last.

They rattled up seven more in the second half to win the game 70-0 and rise to fifth in the table.

Strife? What strife?

The well-documented off-field issues of homelessness – which, of course, saw this rearranged game switched to Featherstone Rovers’ Big Fellas Stadium 31 miles from York - are bound to be having some kind of negative effect.

They certainly are among the disillusioned fans, only 246 making their way here – a record low attendance since the Knights began.

Those that did were treated to some super stuff and they roundly and loudly applauded Ford and his troops as they came off the field.

Such a team, putting up with all they put up with and still serving up entertainment like this, deserve all the plaudits they get, even if it was against terribly poor opposition.

In the Welshmen’s mitigation, they were missing four first-teamers due to being unable to make the long journey north, as well as forward Mike Connor, a Welsh RU employee who has posted in South Africa, while Scott Giles was injured in their last outing, the 50-18 defeat to promotion hopefuls North Wales Crusaders. They also had a long drive up on a work day.

They still began by far the better but, despite several sets in the red zone, they only went close once, winger Craig Lewis being tackled into touch by Tyler Craig and co.

The Knights, having finally decided to play, quickly showed them how to score.

Liam Cunningham ran close down the left and, when the ball was smartly moved right, with plenty of runners confusing the defence, Ben Dent joined the line from full-back and gave in-form centre Greg Minikin the kind of chance he wasn’t going to miss.

Impressive new boy Howden had played a part in that try but he made a bigger mark seven minutes later, blasting through tackles before offloading to Pat Smith at the try-line when faced by the last man, to give his new half-back partner a try.

In the next attack, Smith’s brother Ed somehow escaped tackles to get the ball to Minikin, who in turn, when tackled parallel to the whitewash, somehow reached his right arm over the try-line for his second.

Howden was soon at it again, an outrageous dummy opening a gap, before he gave the scoring pass to Jack Pickles, who had just entered the fray.

If there were any concerns Howden might take time to gel with his new team, they were being wiped away with every passing move in every passing minute.

The next try provided more evidence, as he played his part in another sweeping attack from left to right, straight off the training ground.

Full-back Dent timed his run around the back perfectly to take the scoring pass, this try adding to his nine conversions.

It was the turn of the left-side attack to shine next, Josh Tonks blasting through and off-loading to Liam Cunningham, who sent winger Lee Waterman striding home.

The try-scoring continued two minutes into the second half, Tonks holding off a defender rather like a dad holds off a nagging kid.

Then another move left to right ended with Tyler Craig cutting in to score, before Brad Nicholson went away from the free-flowing crowd-pleasing rugby to simply blast his way over.

South Wales, having had all the ball in the opening exchanges, finally had their next attack on 48 minutes.

York’s defence were more than up to the task against the division’s lowest scorers, though.

Back at the other end, Ed Smith dummied in before hooker Casey Canterbury scooted through for his first try for the club.

Nicholson got his second from a Mark Applegarth offload before Howden superbly sent Minikin in for his hat-trick.

Match facts

Knights: B Dent 8, Waterman 7, Minikin 8, Cunningham 8, Craig 7, Howden 8, P Smith 8, Applegarth 7, Canterbury 8, Aldous 7, Tonks 8, E Smith 8, Mallinder 8. Subs (all used): Glassell 7, Pickles 7, Nicholson 8, Richmond 6.

Tries: Minikin 14, 24, 74; P Smith 21; Pickles 28; B Dent 33; Waterman 39; Tonks 42; Craig 45; Nicholson 55, 71; E Smith 61; Canterbury 65.

Conversions: B Dent 14, 21, 28, 39, 42, 45, 55, 61, 71.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Scorpions: Sheridan, Lewis, Edwards, Leather, Parker, Davies, Emanuelli, Phillips, Williams, Symons, Morgan, Petelo, Hill. Subs (all used): Farrar, Millington, Hellard, Mais.

Tries: none.

Conversions: none.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: none.

Man of the match: Jordan Howden – the debutant gelled so well with his new team-mates that he looked like he’d been here for months. A strapping lad at stand-off, he also helped to create several tries with power as well as handling skills. Will the crocked Jonny Presley be able to get his place back?

Referee: Andy Sweet – okay.

Penalty count: 8-5.

Half-time: 32-0.

Weather: pleasant and still.

Attendance: 246.

Moment of the match: the tries just seemed to get better and better, with some of the fluidity in attack a joy to behold. The pick of the tries? Not sure, maybe Ben Dent’s as he timed his run around the back to perfection on the end of a sweeping move.

Gaffe of the match: if York had begun better, they could have been looking at an even bigger scoreline.

Gamebreaker: Ed Smith was wrapped up but somehow escaped the Scorpions clutches to get the ball to Greg Minikin, who in turn got close to the try-line and, lying parallel to the whitewash, reached his right arm out to somehow touch down. It was his second try and York’s third and the Welshmen - League One’s worst team - by now knew they had no chance.

Match rating: the Knights players got into full fluid flow and looked for all the world like they were having a lot of fun out there.