York City Knights needed a late drop goal from Chris Thorman to beat a spirited South Wales Scorpions side 25-24 at the Huntington Stadium.

Tries from Joe McLocklan, Brett Waller, Danny Ratcliffe and Casey Bromilow were required to keep parity with the Scorpions before Thorman's vital kick.

Knights assistant-coach Mick Ramsden told BBC Radio York: "It didn't look too pretty at times but a win's a win.

"The Scorpions were a pretty strong unit, but we got the points."

Ramsden added: "Loz Wildboar (Scorpions' former Knights player) told me after the game that a lot of them had played Rugby Union and had been converted to Rugby League.

I'm expecting to see us improve a lot more over the next few weeks Mick Ramsden

"They are not a bad side and I think they'll get better and better as the season goes on."

As for the Knights display, Ramsden said: "We didn't perform as well as we wanted. We didn't attack in the right places.

"That's credit to South Wales, their defence was strong, their line speed was pretty good and they put us under pressure."

The Knights led 18-12 at half-time but were rocked by two converted Scorpions tries in the first three minutes of the second-half.

"That was down to a lack of concentration on our part," Ramsden added, "but we always thought we could be there or thereabouts at the end of the game."

The Knights coach added that the return of coach James Ratcliffe next week after suspension will lift the side, and help reduce the workload of himself and Chris Thorman.

"We've got a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be, but James will just freshen it up when he comes back next week," Ramsden said.

"I'm expecting to see us improve a lot more over the next few weeks."

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