Gateshead Thunder 12 York City Knights 60: Waterman ensures Woods enjoys start

It was also first time back at Gateshead since he was sacked as Thunder's head coach in acrimonious circumstances soon after leading them to the Championship One title two years ago.

Lee Waterman led the way with a hat-trick of tries and eight goals. The 28 points he notched equalled a Knights' club record set in 2004 by Danny Brough against Dewsbury.

Waterman had provided the pass for the Knights' opening try after only four minutes, winger Tom Lineham the recipient.

Five more followed in the first half and Woods was able to blood three debutants in the game in Davey Burns, the recent signing from York Acorn ARLC, Scott Woods, the head coach's teenage son, and 17-year-old Ed Smith, the latter two off the bench.

The other first-half try-scorers were Jack Lee, Lineham, with a length-of-the-field effort, Waterman, Jack Stearman and Danny Ratcliffe, a superb solo effort.

Gateshead struck back after half-time through Matt Garside but, despite an error-strewn second half, the Knights scored five more tries through Matt Duckworth, Dan Wilson, Waterman, with two more, and Lee, with his second, before Garside got his second in reply. Nigel Scott booted both Gateshead conversions.

Gateshead Thunder: Stoker, J Brown, Neighbour, T Wilson, Peers, Ry Clarke, Scott, Payne, Cash, Barron, Rh Clarke, Aderiye, Garside. Substitutes (all used): Bate, Parker, Welton, M Brown.

York City Knights: Wilson, Tuffour, Mitchell, Waterman, Lineham, Lee, Ratcliffe, Freer, Williams, Burns, Ross, Duckworth, Hardbottle. Substitutes (all used): Woods, Benson, Smith, Stearman.

Referee: Greg Dolan (Dewsbury).