York City Knights consolidated third place in Championship One with a 48-42 win at Swinton, despite the dismissal of captain Jordan Ross.

New loan signing Ryan Esders scored three tries as the Knights crossed the Swinton line nine times.

Coach Dave Woods told BBC Radio York: "They battled well and worked hard when they were down to 11 men.

"We just made it too difficult for ourselves, we kept them in the game by playing dumb."

He continued: "Taking kick-offs and working to short sides is not how we play, not what we do.

The pressure's on players to perform and if they don't, then they won't be in the squad Dave Woods

"We kept them in the game by playing 'percentage plays' as I call them. If they come off, they're great, but nine times out of 10 they don't, and you're putting yourself under pressure."

Woods praised Swinton for battling to the end, even when they went 16 points down with a few minutes to go.

"We're really safely in the semis, I suppose, and they needed to win to get there so we knew that they'd go right to the end," he said.

On Ross's dismissal he added: "I fail to see how you can send one bloke off when there's a fight with every player in there, and they (Swinton) had a couple of players who ran there from halfway."

As for Esders' return Woods said: "He did well. He hasn't had a training run with us and he slotted in all right.

"He took his tries well, hopefully he'll be good when he has a few runs with the boys."

Woods will review the display, with two scheduled league games to go, against second-placed Oldham and in-form South Wales.

"We've got players coming back now so the pressure's on players to perform and if they don't, then they won't be in the squad."

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