Lee Birseye's two tries and 18 goals for 44 points eclipsed Steve Turner's 15 year old points in a game and goals in a game records; whilst the final score shattered both the club's highest score record (previously 98-nil V York) and the Challenge Cup's own 91 year record scoreline.

But as Hornets executed the gameplan as professionally as possible - notching 21 tries in the process - the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Illingworth's well worked try after 68 minutes.

Despite spending the whole afternoon on the back-foot, Illingworth did strive hard to take their own game forward. Where some teams might well have resorted to spoiling tactics in order to keep the score down, Illingworth tried to play their way out of trouble and were rewarded with an excellent try.

Having made good yards downfield, the ball was shipped wide on the last tackle; the impressive Dale Taylor slotted a pinpoint grubber through the flat defence and Andrew Laheney dived through a sea of limbs to get the ball down.

Indeed, Illingworth's exemplary attitude was reflected in a penalty count of just 5-2 - none that I can remember for foul play.

In addition to Birdsey's points-fest, pick of the performances for Hornets came from the dynamic hooking duo Phil Cantillon and Dave McConnell who both grabbed a hat-trick.

For the record, Hornets other scorers were: Braddish (1), Doran (5, 65), Giles (8, 13), Gorski (38, 42), Owen (40, 48), Saywell (53), McCully (57), Bowker (59) and Ball (80).

Appreciating that it was Illingworth's big day, Bobbie Goulding was matter of fact about the performance. "It was a professional win," he said: "It was about the big picture and about what the lads could do when we got a few points on the board."

Indeed, if Hornets can carry forward the confidence to play expansive attacking football, this game will have served an important purpose.