York City Knights picked up a surprise bonus point as they lost 32-22 at home to Championship favourites Featherstone in their second Northern Rail Cup game.

Trailing 16-0 after half an hour, Ryan Esders and John Davies scored tries, with Esders and Jonny Presley adding further scores late in the game.

Knights coach Dave Woods told BBC Radio York: "To get a bonus point off them, I've got to congratulate my players.

"We've got some real good young blokes who aren't ready for this level yet."

Woods is looking for evidence that the Knights, just promoted from Championship One, can compete at the new level when the league season starts.

We need to go to London Skolars with a winning mentality and put a performance on Dave Woods

"They've just got to keep working on some little things they're doing wrong and eventually they will get there," he added.

"Featherstone are clearly the best side in the competition. They competed to the end again and we've got to give them credit for that.

"We've done some really good things but this is the difference between playing Championship One and Championship rugby league."

Woods needs other results to go in his favour if the Knights are to progress in the competition, but said he is primarily concerned with putting in good, winning displays in the remaining ties, starting at London Skolars next week.

"We need to go to London Skolars with a winning mentality and put a performance on. If we do go there complacent we're going to lose.

"We'll be going to try and win both of our next two, and if we get through we get through, and that would be great for us."

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