CHRIS THORMAN wrote himself and York City Knights into the rugby league history books yesterday as records tumbled at Huntington Stadium.

The Knights hammered Northumbria University 132-0 in the third round of the Challenge Cup to set a new record for the biggest-ever win in the competition’s 115-year history.

And Thorman led the way with four tries and 20 goals for a personal haul of 56 points – an all-time rugby league record.

The previous record score in the Challenge Cup was 119-2 set by Huddersfield against Swinton Park in 1914, though York’s tally fell just short of the rugby league record 142-4 win by Huddersfield over Blackpool Gladiators and the 138-0 win by Barrow over Nottingham City, both in the Regal Trophy in 1994.

York’s previous biggest win in all competitions was 84-0 against Nottingham in 1992.

Thorman’s points haul beat the all-time record of 53 set by George “Tich” West with 11 tries (then worth three points each) and ten goals for Hull KR against Brooklands Rovers in 1905, which also came in the Challenge Cup.

Thorman also came close to breaking the all-time goals in a match record of 22 set by the great Jim Sullivan for Wigan in a 116-0 Cup win over Flimby and Fothergill in 1925.

The previous York RL record of points in a match was 30 set by Jamie Benn with 13 goals and one try for York Wasps at home to Oldham in 1999. The 13 goals was also a record.

The previous Knights record of 12 goals in a match was shared by Lee Waterman, at home to Gateshead last season, and Adam Mitchell, away to London Skolars in 2009.

The previous Knights best of 28 points in a match was also shared by Waterman, with three tries and eight goals at Gateshead last year, and Danny Brough, with a similar haul against Dewsbury in 2004.

Thorman’s fellow half-back, Jonny Presley, also broke a Knights record yesterday with six tries.

The previous best of five was shared by Mark Cain, against Workington in the 1994 play-offs, and Lee Mapals, against Swinton in May 2008.

The all-time York RL record stays with Brad Davis, however, with seven in a 74-14 win over Highfield in 1995.

Knights head coach Dave Woods said the records did not matter as much as a return to form as the Knights built up for the Championship opener at Hunslet next week.

“We don’t worry about records,” he said. “We just wanted to do it for ourselves and make sure we did the little things we’ve been working on, the things we need to do against the better teams.

“This (result) will help us – it gives us confidence. It was a ball-work session but with full contact.

“We executed a lot of those plays really well and our timing was better.”

He added: “I knew we would rack up quite a few points if the players did the things we asked them to do. But I didn’t think it would be that many.

“We were looking for a display from us and we got that, and when you do that the scoreline takes care of itself.

“We asked for commitment and good line speed and playing to our outcome goals. When you do those things correctly, points will come.

“If you do the things you need to work on, whether it’s Hunslet Hawks or Northumbria University you’re playing, it will work for you.”

Woods also praised Northumbria, who battled on gamely without once resorting to foul play or tactics to slow the match down.

“Full credit to them. They’re young fellas and they were still working hard at the end,” he said.

“Unfortunately they caught us on a day when we needed a performance and got one.”

Half-backs Thorman and Presley ended with 80 points between them.

Woods added: “We’ve done some work with our halves. We needed to execute plays. Our timing was a lot better and that makes them look a lot better.”