YORK City Knights coach Richard Agar saw his side set a new club record of five consecutive wins yesterday and declared: "I ain't complaining".

The Knights beat his old club, Featherstone Rovers, 18-16 in the Arriva Trains Cup group section at Huntington Stadium in what was arguably their toughest test of the season so far.

And, although he reckoned they would have to improve to do so again when the two sides meet again in the Powergen Challenge Cup at Featherstone next week, Agar was content with the job done.

It was the first time York had won five on the bounce since the Wasps did so at the end of the 1998 season, and Agar said: "Five wins? I'm not complaining -- but we've got to keep striving to make ourselves better.

"I was not over-enamoured with our performance. We made a lot of errors but we dug in exceptionally well, especially when down to 12 men (Ryan Benjefield was sin-binned) and with some guys carrying knocks.

"We defended very well on the whole and never threw the towel in. Fev also defended well and kept at it until we managed to nick a try at the end.

"We will have to play better to get a result next week, but the players all recognise they can play better.

"We're far from happy with our overall performance but we will take the win."

He added: "Every week is showing up different areas to work in but we're starting as a team to recognise where we go right and wrong and we're always building."

Agar, Rovers' player-assistant coach last year, had been tipped to take over the hot seat at Post Office Road in the closed season but instead stepped down a division to take charge at the Knights.

His side bridged the gap yesterday, though, and he reckoned it set things up nicely for next Sunday's big clash.

"It's a confidence boost going into next week," he said. "It's laid a marker down but it will be a totally different set of circumstances next week.

"It's a different venue, our side there will have some different players, and it's a different competition. But it was a close game and I think it makes it exciting for next week. I hope yesterday's close game puts a few more on the gate next week."

Agar will be without cup-tied Ryan Benjefield and Tom Andrews next week, while John Smith faces a disciplinary hearing tomorrow night after being put on report at Sheffield last week and fellow forward Mick Ramsden will have a check-up on a knee injury sustained yesterday.

But back in contention come forwards Darren Callaghan, Dan Briggs and Damian Ball, who were all rested yesterday, while winger Chris Smith might also be fit following his knee injury last week.

Featherstone boss Gary Price labelled yesterday's encounter a "bad performance and bad result" and took his team straight onto the bus after the game demanding they improved next week.

Referee Ashley Klein, meanwhile, who has officiated at all three of the Knights' home games this season, came in for stick from both sets of fans but Agar tried to be diplomatic.

"I was surprised at one or two calls all round," he said. "It gets frustrating for both sets of coaches and players but we've got to keep with it."

Updated: 10:56 Monday, March 08, 2004