COUGAR Park hasn’t often been a happy hunting ground for York City Knights.

But the smiles were all theirs this time after they left with a 46-16 victory – their biggest win away to Keighley since a 42-10 success back in 2007 – and stayed on the coattails of Betfred League One leaders Bradford.

Clashes between these sides here are usually eventful and this was no different, with more animosity, three yellow cards – including two for ex-Knight Matty Nicholson – plus the obligatory all-in brawl. There was a particularly nasty moment two, when Connor Robinson, needing treatment after a high shot which caused his premature departure, was seemingly manhandled by opponents.

Keighley had fought back from 12-0 to 12-10 but tries either side of half-time gave York breathing space which grew as the second half wore on.

Such a satisfying win – comprising seven tries and nine goals - came despite the fact they had players playing of position after Robinson was joined in the treatment room by Tim Spears and Joe Batchelor.

They had also been without the bulk of their dual-reg stars, barring winger Will Oakes.

That meant Ash Robson was back in his favoured full-back position, Judah Mazive back on the wing after his patient wait for a recall, likewise Ronan Dixon at prop and fit-again Mike Kelly in the second row.

Will Jubb got the nod ahead of Harry Carter at interchange hooker.

The Knights also had French teenage scrum-half Thibault Franck in their 19-man squad on dual-reg, but the experienced Ben Cockayne instead continued alongside League One’s top points-scorer Robinson in the halves – and fully justified that selection yet again.

Keighley, buoyed by their 94-0 win over whipping boys West Wales, had prop Mike Bailey and half-back Matty Beharrell back, with Cameron Leeming omitted and Scott Law out due to – believe it or not – an infection caused by an insect bite.

Nicholson, Mike Emmett, Josh Tonks and Benn Hardcastle were ex-Knights in their ranks.

Dixon’s first action was a powerful run upfield in an encouraging opening for York but Keighley quickly turned that tide and won a dropout, then a penalty for accidental offside.

Repeat sets would likely sap more energy than normal given the baking hot conditions.

Home centre Adam Ryder – nicknamed the White Bull, for obvious reasons – soon tried to blast over but his try was ruled out for a double movement.

Instead York took a 14th-minute lead.

Robson’s good run was backed up brilliantly by hooker Andy Ellis, who broke through from dummy-half and fed skipper Spears, who used the man on his inside as a foil. Robinson booted the first of his four conversions prior to his departure.

The penalty count soon racked up, though, and then out of nowhere it kicked off.

Nicholson was dumped to the floor via the neck by Graeme Horne close to the visitors’ sticks.

The penalty given, Nicholson retaliated by impersonating a WWE wrestler, lifting and dumping Horne to the floor.

After the all-in brawl finally subsided, Nicholson and Spears were sin-binned.

At 12 v 12, the Knights withstood the penalty in the red zone, broke upfield, and extended the lead.

Robinson was the creator with a wonderful offload that gave sub Jubb a close-range finish.

However, the next time York attacked, the opposite happened. Robinson’ pass was picked off by Perry Whiteley, who sprinted 80-odd metres to the other end. Hardcastle goaled.

Then, seconds after the sides were back up to 13, Ryder broke through on the left edge and sent pacy winger Andy Gabriel flying home.

In a to-and-fro first half, another penalty - making it 8-7 to the hosts - had the Cougars on the verge again but the ball went to ground in the red zone. Robinson – in a virtual mirror image to earlier - picked up and legged it to the other end, showing impressive pace, too.

The in-form stand-off caught his breath and capped it off with the touchline conversion on the hooter for a 18-10 lead and the slope to come in York’s favour.

Judah Mazive shone early in the second period with a catch and clearing run.

Then it was Cockayne’s turn. Lifting the pace, he made a super break in centre-field and gave Batchelor an easy run-in for a 24-10 lead.

Defensively, a crunching tackle by Spears and Porter caused Dan Parker to spill the ball in his own half, setting the tone again.

The moment of madness came on 54 minutes.

A flailing arm caught Robinson in the chops and the dazed scrum-half’s day was done.

After he was finally allowed to be treated and helped off, Nicholson received his second yellow card for his part in the incident.

The Knights played the remaining 26 minutes without a recognised half-back – play-anywhere Jubb filling the breach. Nevertheless, such is the fluency in the side at present, it was hard to tell.

Robson took over the goalkicking and booted his first of two penalties – followed by three conversions out of three.

Cockayne, relishing his creative role, also stepped up to the plate – his beautifully timed pass putting Horne home.

There were 12 minutes left when Keighley were given a lifeline through Nicholson’s try – a fighting finish in the right corner.

But the excellent Porter – now playing out in the centres - won a penalty off Emmett and Robson eked up the lead to 34-14.

Two late tries by the deserving Porter and Kelly, set up by veteran campaigners Cockayne and Ellis, put gloss on the scoreboard and brought patronising chants of “easy, easy” from the travelling support.