York City Knights 76 South Wales 0: Unbeaten Knights break league record

The Knights hammered South Wales Scorpions 76-0 at Huntington Stadium yesterday to make it three wins out of three in Championship One and four out of four following the Challenge Cup toppling of Whitehaven.

The margin of victory topped the previous club best of 80-6 away to London Skolars in 2009, although it remains some way short of their record Challenge Cup scoreline of 132-0 against Northumbria University in 2011.

Benn Hardcastle got the ball rolling with the opening try after five minutes, and he went on to finish with 24 points thanks to 10 conversions.

Half-back partner Jonny Presley, meanwhile, led the try-scoring, finishing with four, including a second-half hat-trick. He scampered home from distance for all four, the pick being a solo effort from a scrum on half-way.

The Knights scored seven touchdowns in each half, having started with four inside 15 minutes. After Hardcastle’s opener, winger Ben Dent finished a good move down the left, Presley got his first, and Jack Aldous crossed.

James Haynes notched a try, Ed Smith touched down and teenage hooker Harry Carter sped home from Iain Morrison’s break.

In the second half, in addition to Presley’s treble, Elliott crossed thanks to James Morland’s quick hands, James Ford got in on the act with a superb finish from distance, Ryan Mallinder stretched over, and Haynes got his second.

York: Haynes, Elliot, Ford, Morland, Dent, B. Hardcastle, Presley, Bell, Lee, Aldous, Mallinder, E. Smith, Paterson. Substitutes: Golden, Morrison, Carter, Freer.

South Wales: Sheridan, Leyshom, Hellard, Pring, Scrivens, Emanuelli, Bateman, B. Phillips, Farrer, Fitz-Gerald, Connor, Carleton, Vitalini. Substitutes: Pope, Elliott, O. Phillips, Wilcox.

Referee: A Sweet (RFL).