Leading 34-0 at the break, the Knights had all but wrapped up the win before the half time hooter sounded after an utterly dominant display at Cougar Park in their first competitive hit-out of 2025.
Jesse Dee, Liam Harris, Jack Teanby and Oli Field all bagged doubles, with Ata Hingano, Levi Edwards, Conor Fitzsimmons, Brenden Santi and Myles Harrison also crossing the whitewash in the 13-try rout.
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Whilst irked not to keep a clean sheet, Applegarth was particularly delighted with his side’s clinical first-half performance, in which Keighley were barely given an opportunity.
“We knew that we’d have to earn the right to play, and the points had to come after that,” the Knights boss explained.
“I thought how we went about our defensive business, especially in the first half, it was really pleasing. As a coach, naturally you want to have perfection, but I was a bit filthy that they scored that try near our tryline and then the intercept.
“Overall, it wasn’t a bad day at the office and there were some lovely tries. But the most pleasing thing for me was how we went about our business, especially in that first half.”
Whilst heavy favourites against Keighley, the Knights are the firm underdogs against beaten Grand Finalists KR, who will likely bring a very different team to the LNER Community Stadium than travelled to Amsterdam to face them last Saturday.
But Applegarth was pleased to see his side not dragged into the dogfight and instead maintain the high standards that they have set themselves through pre-season.
“We’ve spoken all week about it because ultimately, we’re going to be in those shoes on Friday, aren’t we?” he said.
“When there’s no pressure on you whatsoever, it’s really important that you keep your own standards where they need to be and that you don’t get dragged into that dogfight that the underdog wants.
“I thought it was a really professional and disciplined performance today from our lads.”
Making metres with ease whilst routinely pinning Keighley back deep within their own half, both Dee and captain Harris found the whitewash twice in a devastating 19-minute spell before the interval to put the Knights firmly in the driving seat.
And they didn’t let up after the break, with both Fitzsimmons and Santi storming over within five minutes of the restart before Jack Miller finally brought Keighley onto the board in the 50th minute.
But Harry Bowes’ sin-bin temporarily sent the hosts down to 12 men and both Teanby and Harrison took advantage to take York past the half-century before Field squeezed through out wide.
Teanby and Field then completed their braces either side of Oliver Whitford’s interception try to cap off the rout.
Applegarth though knows his side must find another level to their game if they are to spring a shock on the Robins in round three.
“We challenged the middles about getting after them and they certainly did that,” the Knights boss reflected.
“I thought the back five did their end of the bargain too with the first three carries, especially in yardage, I thought they were great. It gives the middles that breather that they need if they’re putting the effort in in defence.
“There was some good team synergy about it, and we’ve just spoken in there about keeping grounded. It’s going to be a different level on Friday night that we need to raise to and it’s really important that we’re willing to put that work in and a bit more ready for Hull KR.”
