SKIPPER Ed Smith reckons York City Knights can “kick on for the rest of the season” if they continue to show the same grit and determination that helped them defeat old rivals Doncaster on Good Friday.

Smith epitomised the defensive enthusiasm in the ranks with two try-saving goal-line tackles within a minute during a period of Doncaster pressure in the second half, before the Knights sealed a 16-8 victory with a late try.

It marked a notable turnaround over just five days, following the miserable 35-28 defeat at minnows Oxford the previous Sunday, and Smith hopes it will also get their Kingstone Press League One campaign back on track – as well as set them up nicely for Sunday’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fifth round tie against bogey side Barrow at Bootham Crescent.

Asked about that upturn in form – from losing to an expansion club to beating promotion hopefuls – Smith said: “It’s a tough one. We’ve got a young side still who aren’t used to those long trips away.

“I’ve played in this league for three years and I understand it can be more of a challenge to get up for these expansions teams, with complacency possibly creeping in subconsciously. Managing that going forward will be important, we know that.

“But we’ve been getting up for these bigger games, the likes of Rochdale (in the cup) and Doncaster, and have been outstanding across the board with the attitude and focus everyone had.

“It’s still been a bit messy, a bit hairy at times, with good ball completion and execution not where we want it to be. That will come, I’m sure.

“As long as this grit is there and attitude is there, we can kick on for the rest of the season.”

Smith said that mental attitude was the major difference between losing to Oxford and beating the Dons.

He explained: “If you look at it objectively, the execution and the rugby we’ve showed over the last two weeks was not that much different – there were still too many unforced errors – but it was pure grit and determination that was the difference and that’s what got us through (against Doncaster).

“It’s a physical sport and sometimes you can get through on attitude and determination alone – that can be the most important factor at a base level.”