TRY star Tyler Craig believes York City Knights’ heroics against the champions of Super League will stand them in great stead in their bid for promotion from Kingstone Press League One.

James Ford’s young part-timers beat all pre-match predictions by holding mighty St Helens to 46-6 in the Challenge Cup sixth round, capping their display – and sending the travelling fans wild - with a fine touchdown by home-grown 21-year-old Craig.

They are now due to return to league action on Friday night against South Wales Scorpions and, while they go into the game eighth in the table, albeit with games in hand due to their cup run, Craig insists last Friday’s performance against a side like Saints shows they have it in them to get into the top five at the very least.

“The final scoreline was pretty reasonable. We wanted to keep them below 50 and we wanted to score – and we achieved both those goals,” said the former Heworth ARLC junior.

“Going back into the league, we will be on a bit of a high. Hopefully we can get another win under our belts and kick on and ultimately get into the play-offs or even win the league.

“Our character is growing all the time. We all stick together as a team and, come later in the year when we’re competing for the play-offs, we can be bang on form.”

Craig also revealed the pride he felt when crossing the whitewash – especially as his try came in the corner occupied by York supporters, sparking celebrations on and off the field.

The team were also roundly applauded by the St Helens fans at the other end as they took their positions for the restart while Ben Dent added the touchline conversion.

“It was a really good feeling, not just scoring but scoring in the corner where all the York fans were,” said Craig.

“It felt great, especially being a local lad.”

Of the try itself, he added: “I can’t really remember it, to be honest. It was good play down the right and we opened them up a bit. It was a good ball by Ed Smith and I just saw the whitewash and went for it.

“We deserved it. We deserved to get on the scoreboard.

“I thought we dug in and did everything we were asked to do.”

There is as yet no confirmation where Friday night’s game will be held, as the community stadium saga continues to leave the Knights homeless.

It is also unclear if the Rugby Football League will give them special dispensation to play again at Clifton Park, which has staged their two competitive home games so far despite not meeting RFL standards.

“It’s tough for the whole team,” said Craig of that saga, which also leaves the team without a training base.

“What we’ve got at the minute, it’s a struggle. We haven’t got a ground, or set training facilities.

“But we’re overcoming it as best we can and hopefully it will make us a stronger team.”