YORK City Knights reserves' winning run came to an end against a Leigh Centurions side featuring a few former Super League stars - but the club might just have unearthed another gem.

Mick Ramsden's young charges had not lost since their opening fixture of the year against Halifax, including winning at Leigh Sporting Village, but they came a cropper at Huntington Stadium on Thursday, 64-10.

The Centurions, whose first team are flying high in the Championship, fielded stars such as Martin Aspinwall, Michael Ostick, Steve Maden and Stuart Littler - the Ireland forward who played more than 300 games for Salford - in their reserve ranks.

York had a young team out, including 17-year-old debutant Liam Richmond, a Heworth ARLC youngster stepping up from the development squad.

Nathan Harper and Ryan Backhouse were the pick of the Knights players, but coach Mick Ramsden reserved special praise for Richmond, who played an hour off the bench at second-row.

"It was a tough one to throw him into but he did well. Technically he's not up to speed obviously but some of the things he did were very good," said Ramsden.

"He took one of his first carries straight at Stuart Littler - which immediately made people sit up."

Centre Adam Swift got both of York's tries, Ben Crane adding one goal.

Said Knights development manager Jack Stearman: "It's always a good test playing players of that calibre so our lads will have learnt a lot."