JAMES FORD reckoned the levels of disappointment in the York City Knights ranks after defeat to Castleford in their opening run-out of 2016 suggested how far his team have come.

Cas won 20-16 at Bootham Crescent last night as Greg Minikin, the Knights' 2015 Player of the Year, scored a superb late winner against his former club.

Ford admitted his team looked rusty in their belated bow but was happy with lessons learned – both "good and bad".

He said: "It was a worthwhile exercise. It was a mixed team from Cas – promising youngsters and some Super League players.

"Physically we were very good. I thought we dominated their middle and that's where they had the most experience.

"We could have kicked the ball better but it's the first time we've been out on this field.

"We were a bit off in 'good ball'. We didn't find the right places to play from and rarely got to our second shift.

"But it was not about the result, it was about us getting a competitive game to see where we're at; to look at individuals and combinations.

"I've learned a number of things about a number of players, good and bad. But it was our first game and obviously some people and some combinations were rusty.

"It shows how far we've come that we're disappointed to have lost to a team that has people like Ryan Boyle, Ryan Hampshire, Godwin Springer, Ash Robson and Greg Minikin – arguably the best player in League One last year."