YORK City Knights head coach James Ford has come out of retirement - to turn out for Selby Warriors in the Pennine League.

Ford had applied to register as a Knights player at the end of the League One season in order to make up the numbers for his depleted team in the play-offs but saw that emergency request rejected.

However, he has registered for Selby at the behest of old friend and Warriors stalwart Dave Sowden, and he donned the boots in their Pennine League division four match at Wyke 'A' - inspiring them to their first win of the season, 28-4.

Ford, playing at centre, set up the first try from his own half. He broke the line, raced 40 yards and off-loaded to Micky Firth, who then sent the supporting Chaz Fothergill sprinting to the posts for a superb touchdown.

Fothergill went over again five minutes later when he raced away, beating four defenders, and his team crossed for a third time just before the break as stand-off Thomas Kilgar's superb pass sent in Danny England.

Selby had led in their other three games only to fall away in the second half and it was important they got the first score after the resumption to keep them on the right track.

Ford duly eased concerns with a great try, beating two men on an arcing run, showing he still has plenty of pace.

Wyke responded with their only try but Selby finished the game with two more from England and scrum-half Firth, the last being converted by Ford - believed to be his first-ever goal kick in any game of rugby.

Scott Birch, Kelvin Robinson and Jason Robey were superb for Selby, as was James Dunell in his first-ever game.

On Ford, Sowden said: "James was excellent for the team, not just with his playing ability but in talking to and encouraging all the young lads in the team."

Neighbours Sherburn Bears were handed a 30-0 walkover win in their division three match by strugglers Halton Moor Storm.