YORK City Knights eased into the sixth round of the Coral Challenge Cup after thrashing Rochdale Hornets 70-12.

The match was confirmed to be moved to Featherstone’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday morning, though York showed no signs of being homesick, registering 13 tries in total.

Of course, only so much can be read into a victory over League 1 opposition, but there were certainly plenty of positive signs in attack for York.

For the moment, eyes turn to Monday evening’s sixth round draw, in which stage the rest of the Super League clubs enter.

It took York just six minutes to get their first try on the board and it didn’t seem to prove too difficult to come by.

Hooker Will Jubb feinted a move to the right but instead went left and the Knights had sufficient numbers for Jason Bass to touch down unchallenged in the corner.

The kick from Connor Robinson drifted wide of the posts.

Chris Clarkson has been one of the better York players this season and he managed to register his first Knights try after a dozen minutes.

The former Castleford forward exchanged passes with Jack Teanby within close range of the line, with the returning ball teeing up Clarkson to go under the sticks.

This time Robinson added the two points, his first of nine goals from 12 attempts.

York didn’t have things all their own way and Rochdale could well have cut the deficit when Lewis Sheridan broke to within 10m of their line, only to wildly offload with tackles still remaining in the count.

The Knights continued to look strong whenever they were deep in Rochdale territory and added a third try on 22 minutes.

Ben Johnston, returning to the starting 13 after a knock last week, showed the running threat spoken of by Ford upon his signature by breaking the line from close range.

He then laid the ball back inside for half-back partner Robinson to slide over.

The game had taken on a quiet feel thereafter with Rochdale dealing most of Robinson’s kicks and being content enough to kick to touch themselves at the end of sets.

That was two tries in as many minutes extended York’s lead.

First, Marcus Stock’s pass teed up Matty Marsh to dash clear through the middle.

Then, Danny Washbrook put Sam Scott in space who in turn almost assisted Bass’ second try, though the winger was halted short.

A play later and York were in, Reiss Butterworth side-stepping to the line for his first York try and the Knights from left to right.

With 90 seconds left, there remained time for York to surpass 30 points.

Liam Whalley was sin-binned for what looked like punching and straight from the resulting scrum, the Knights were in.

Spreading the ball to the right flank, Will Sharp got in on the touch to dive over by the flag. 34-0 was York’s half-time advantage.

After the restart, it was Rochdale who would get on the scoreboard first, avoiding the ‘nilling’.

A grubber from Declan Sheridan to brother Lewis allowed the latter to groups near the posts.

York quickly responded when Washbrook strongly offloaded to Marsh who dotted down for his second of the game.

But Rochdale remained alive in the contest, Jamie Tracey’s offload allowing Lewis Sheridan to complete his brace.

Once more York replied, again through Marsh. The full-back rounded off his hat-trick by stepping inside from his right flank run, fooling the Hornets defence.

If there were any qualms about the Knights second-half display, they were quickly dispelled with three tries in the same of six minutes.

A classy series of hands saw Bass take his second and he had his hat-trick from a replica score on 71 minutes.

In between those scores, Johnston got his name on the scoresheet, with a quality dummy putting him through a small gap.

There still remained time for York to add more points to their tally, Robinson crossing past a tired Rochdale defence and Marsh doing likewise straight from a scrum to grab his fourth.

For the latter, Tim Spears, on his 400th career appearance took the kick, which went wide. 

York: Marsh, Bass, Keinhorst, Salter, Sharp, Johnston, Robinson, Teanby, Jubb, Baldwinson, Scott, Clarkson, Spears.

Subs (all used): Butterworth, Washbrook, Green, Stock.

Tries: Bass (6, 65, 71), Clarkson (13), Robinson (22, 76), Marsh (32, 48, 58, 79), Butterworth (34), Sharp (39), Johnston (68)

Goals: Robinson (9/12), Spears (0/1)

Rochdale: Freeman, Holroyd, Calland, Whitehead, Bloomfield, L Sheridan, Syme, Hopkins, Penkywicz, Hesketh, Whalley, Tracey, Lea.

Subs (all used): D Sheridan, Fowden, Marriott, Ngawati.

Tries: L Sheridan (45, 53)

Goals: Freeman (2/2)

Man of the Match: Matty Marsh. York’s top try-scorer last season scored four tries.

Referee: Jack Smith.

Penalty count: 6-4