WHEN York City Knights played Hull KR on the opening day of the season, they conceded five tries in 80 minutes when down to 12 men for 75 of them.

Yesterday, they conceded five in only ten minutes while a man down, and shipped in ten touchdowns in total in a 52-14 hammering in the reverse fixture.

A silver lining came from Sheffield where the Eagles, the Knights' rivals in the race for runners-up spot in Northern Rail Cup group six, lost to Featherstone, meaning York are still in the box seat.

But the way they capitulated from 6-4 down and in with a shout two minutes before half-time to 48-4 behind, and forgetting what the ball looked like, 23 minutes later should raise a few concerns for boss Mick Cook with the National League One season just three weeks away, nothwithstanding the fact Rovers are full-time and one of the division's top teams.

Another silver lining was the first appearance of Neil Law since his pre-season car crash to add experience to a back line also boosted by full-back Matt Blaymire's return, which saw teenager Tom Dunmore switch to the wing.

But two steps forward were met with three back as Rob Spicer and Paul Clarke joined those on the sidelines after midweek head injuries, and Mark Blanchard went off yesterday with a suspected dislocated thumb.

Jamie Bovill was also back in the starting 13 in place of another crock, James Ward, and while he wasted York's best chance of the opening quarter, his aggression did not seem restrained by the fact he was sent off after five minutes in the reverse fixture.

Like that day, however, his team were the victims of early penalties as two consecutive free-kicks against Jason Golden had Hull KR on the front foot and they spun it wide for winger Byron Ford to cross. Gareth Morton, who later hobbled off, converted.

Rovers' next chance came midway through the half but Makali Aizue dropped the ball under pressure and this was followed by a yellow card for home hooker Ben Fisher, though it wasn't clear what for.

This precipitated York's best period.

Great play by Scott Rhodes and Golden sent Jim Elston away. He was cut off by two defenders but the Knights should have scored from the play-the-ball, where Phil Hasty's low pass was put down by John Smith.

York were making most of the half-breaks, though, and following another good Rhodes run, Elston put Law in.

Soon, however, it was 13 v 12 in Rovers' favour as Dunmore was yellow-carded for holding down Jon Goddard following a great cover tackle.

The referee may have been conned by Goddard, but the space it left in the York defence helped create room for Ford's second try out wide and a try for Michael Smith on the hooter after Aizue had side-stepped Dean O'Loughlin far too easily.

The 16-4 half-time scoreline flattered Rovers but within minutes of the restart York were looking down the barrel as Phil Joseph and Ford crossed from length-of-the-field sets, Smith causing most of the damage.

That made it four tries in four consecutive sets against an increasingly fragile defence. The fifth attack forced a drop-out and the sixth saw winger Jon Steel cross.

The rot stopped for barely seven minutes before that man Smith used his immense size to get over and, while Rovers were buzzing, York looked ragged. Ford out-jumped Dunmore to get his fourth try, then set up Fisher to score after more great work from Smith.

It looked like Rovers might surpass the 62 total they got against amateurs York Acorn in the Challenge Cup last week, but the Knights avoided that embarrassment as they at last improved their act.

When they finally touched the ball, Golden scored after a lucky ricochet and Phil Hasty made the scoreline more respectable with a fine try and conversion from Dave Buckley's good pass. Nevertheless, Rovers reached the half-century as Ford got his fifth try.

Hull KR: Rivett, Steel, Couturier, Goddard, Ford, Murrell, Webster, Stephenson, Fisher, Tangata-Toa, Morton, M Smith, Gallagher.

Subs (all used): Parker, Price, Joseph, Aizue.

Tries: Ford 7, 39, 43, 58, 73; Smith 40, 54; Joseph 41; Steel 47; Fisher 61.

Conversions: Morton 7; Couturier 40, 41, 43, 54; Murrell 61.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Fisher 22.

Sent off: None.

Knights: Blaymire 6, Dunmore 5, Blanchard 5, Law 7, Farrell 6, Rhodes 7, Hasty 6, Sullivan 6, Liddell 5, Bovill 6, J Smith 5, Golden 6, Paterson 5. Subs (all used): Elston 5, Buckley 6, O'Loughlin 4, Bates 5.

Tries: Law 30; Golden 64; Hasty 70.

Conversions: Hasty 70.

Penalties: None.

Drop goals: None.

Sin-binned: Dunmore 38. Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Neil Law

Scott Rhodes had it at half time but, with the half-backs starved of the ball thereafter, the nod went to Neil Law for his impressive try-scoring return from injury.

HT: 16-4

Referee: Mike Dawber (Wigan).

Rating: Usual standard.

Penalty count: 7-5

Gamebreaker: Tom Dunmore's yellow card just before half-time triggered a ten-minute period that saw Hull KR go on the rampage.

Moment of the match: Phil Hasty's fine try from Dave Buckley's good pass made the scoreline a bit more respectable.

Attendance: 2,649

Weather watch: Crisp.

Match rating: Plenty of good attacking play from both sides, although not a great deal of quality, tough defending from one of them.

Updated: 10:14 Monday, March 20, 2006