IF YORK Acorn ARLC were not already daring to dream, then Saturday's Ladbrokes Challenge Cup results would have given them extra cause to think the impossible might be possible.

Of the six third-round ties that day, four threw up amateur club victories over League One opposition. At Bootham Crescent today, however, there was to be no surprise – far from it.

York City Knights' thoroughly professional performance ultimately paid off handsomely on the scoreboard as a 28-0 half-time lead stretched out to 66-0 by the final hooter.

Nonetheless, this game in many respects was more about the occasion than the result.

An attendance of 2,293 – which will probably be the biggest crowd for a rugby game at Bootham Crescent this year – meant Acorn were already winners, especially given the number of tickets they had sold beforehand. As was York rugby league as a whole.

They had their moments on the pitch but it is fair to say that whatever respect they earned out of it, then the Knights netted plenty too as they made clear to any doubters the difference in strength, speed and class between the sides.

On Saturday, perennial League One strugglers South Wales Scorpions' defeat to Featherstone Lions might not have been too big a shock, nor Kells edging Hemel Stags.

But Pilkington Recs nilling London Skolars was a surprise and, in a massive eye-opener, Newcastle Thunder were thrashed 30-4 by Siddal. So could this match follow suit?

A fumble at the first play-the-ball by Knights centre James Morland immediately gave Acorn a lift.

They should also have opened the scoring as a fine move down the right put winger Josh Thompson streaking away, only for his would-be scoring pass inside to Joe Budd to go to ground.

However, the even nature of the contest did not last much longer.

Knights head coach James Ford had said his side would treat the game as any other – but in fact he had done a little extra.

Having already underlined his respect for the Blue and Golds by saying he would field his strongest side, Ford had also brought former club stalwart and club favourite Mick Ramsden back in for a training session last week to underline to his players – not least those from outside the city – how important this tie was.

A minute later, after Acorn's golden chance, a high tackle on Kriss Brining gave Ford's men an attacking set and Ryan Mallinder crashed over to break the deadlock.

Four minutes later, Ed Smith – captain for the day against his junior club – broke through down the right flank and sent Jonny Presley scampering home.

Smith marked his big day with a fine finish himself, the second-row having too much strength for the defence to hold up, before Morland got a quick-fire brace – the first aided by Jack Byrnes unfortunately losing his footing, the second set up by another Smith run.

The Knights' extra strength was again to the fore as Mallinder got his second try.

Acorn perhaps had not deserved to be trailing 28-0 at half-time – a scoreline which would have been heavier had Danny Nicklas had his shooting boots on, having missed four of six conversions, some simple.

But the writing was on the wall for the second half with the pro club's superior fitness certain to tell, Acorn's attempts to slow the game merely ramping up the penalty count and delaying the inevitable.

Mike Emmett was held up over the try-line but soon enough a splendid move down centrefield involving Brett Waller and Richard Wilkinson saw Harry Carter finish well, Wilkinson taking over goal-kicking duties to add the first of his five conversions.

Wilkinson himself crossed after bouncing off a tackle under the sticks and, within a minute, Nicklas broke to send Tyler Craig home. It would have been a nice moment for sub Craig, whose junior days were spent at Acorn's cross-city rivals Heworth.

Connor Bower finished well down the other flank to bring up the half-century, before a quite brilliant run by exciting full-back Wilkinson – who will surely cut up plenty of sides in League One this year – made a try for Nicklas.

That was the scrum-half's last act of note as he was soon yellow-carded – questionably – following an all-in melee of push and shove over something and nothing in centre-field.

Acorn's tall winger Thompson also sat out the last ten minutes for his part in the rumpus, having made his way over from the far side to get involved.

Still the Blue and Golds sought reward on the scoreboard for their efforts.

Antony Chilton had missed a drop-goal attempt before skipper Tom Hill – as always leading the way throughout, along with the impressive Joe Porter – charged forward before kicking on, only for opposing second-row Josh Tonks to sweep up the danger and keep the Knights' clean sheet intact.

The hosts then went up the other end and Wilkinson capped his man-of-the-match display by creating a try for Brett Turner.

One big surprise hitherto was that 2015 try-machine Brining had not got on the scoresheet – but the hooker duly got his trademark try from dummy-half on the final hooter.

MATCH FACTS

Knights 66 Acorn 0

Knights: Wilkinson 8, Turner 7, Morland 6, Bower 6, A Dent 6, Presley 8, Nicklas 6, Applegarth 6, Brining 6, Aldous 7, Mallinder 8, E Smith 8, Emmett 7. Subs (all used): Carter 7, Waller 7, Tonks 7, Craig 6.

Tries: Mallinder 12, 40; Presley 16; E Smith 22; Morland 29, 32; Carter 45; Wilkinson 48; Craig 49; Bower 61; Nicklas 67; Turner 75; Brining 80.

Conversions: Nicklas 16, 32; Wilkinson 45, 48, 49, 67, 75.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: Nicklas 70.

Acorn: Calam 6, Johnson 7, Gallacher 7, Myers 7, Thompson 6, Chilton 7, Budd 7, North 7, Speck 7, Porter 8, Bulmer 7, Hill 8, Mortimer 7. Subs (all used): Stubbs 7, Rushworth 7, Bromwich 6, Byrnes 7.

Tries: none.

Conversions: none.

Penalties: none.

Sent off: none.

Sin-binned: Thompson 70.

Man of the match: Richard Wilkinson – the exciting former Doncaster full-back ran amok at times, scoring one try and setting up several others, giving further suggestion that he will be some player in League One this year.

Referee: Andy Sweet (Castleford) – good.

Penalty count: 13-7

Weather: fresh, sunny and pleasant.

Half-time: 28-0

Attendance: 2, 293

Moment of the match: the pick of the tries was Brett Turner's as set up by Rich Wilkinson's superb run – but also of some note was the Acorn supporters' constant backing for their team from the David Longhurst Stand, not least the rendition of (Blue and) Gold by Spandau Ballet.

Gaffe of the match: Acorn deserved a score and should have got the first of the day after Josh Thompson was put clear down the right but his inside pass to Joe Budd went to ground with the try-line begging.

Game-breaker: Acorn began well and should have gone ahead after ten minutes, only to miss their golden chance. But it was not long before the Knights took the lead and their third try – scored by former Acorn junior Ed Smith just after the quarter mark – ended any faint hopes the amateur club had of a shock victory.

Match rating: the sun shone on a big day for York rugby league. The Knights – barring an almighty shock - were always going to win, and most probably win big, but even if Acorn head coach Scott Rhodes was disappointed with his side's display, they and their noisy following also did themselves proud for the way they conducted themselves on and off the pitch.