"YOU wouldn’t have thought there was £1.7million between the sides."

So said proud York City Knights boss James Ford, referring to the respective salary caps, after his part-time League One troops pushed Super League full-timers Catalans Dragons all the way at Bootham Crescent before bowing out of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.

The Knights were well in it when local lad Joe Porter scored two tries in four minutes to equalise at 10-10 in the first half and again when Kieren Moss cut the deficit to 22-16 in the second.

But Steve McNamara's top-flight side, aided by some refereeing calls, pulled away to win the fifth round tie 34-22.

"I’m immensely proud of our efforts," said Ford of his team. "We spoke about wanting to be the hardest-working side on the field and we were certainly up there today.

"It should be a massive gap (from League One to Super League). I'm not having a dig at Catalans. I like Steve McNamara - he's a good coach and they have some wonderful players. But if you get the culture right and have good facilities, a League One side can turn over the top Championship sides and even the bottom Super League sides.

"Unfortunately we weren't quite good enough to do that but hopefully we'll get another shot at a Super League side next year.

"There are some good clubs and players in League One. Bradford Bulls are potentially an enormous club again and I like to think that York has potential, as well as teams like Doncaster.

"There are some good coaches in League One also and this is the best the division and the Championship has ever been.

"Outside the Super League, the game is thriving and you wouldn’t have thought there was £1.7million between the sides today."

Referee Chris Kendall was jeered off by home fans after the match but Ford remained magnanimous in defeat.

"The game was in the balance for large parts but unfortunately we weren’t quite good enough to win," he said. "You’ve got to give Catalans some credit.

"We tried to make it hostile for them, and obviously all the pressure was on them.

"They were good enough and strong enough to stay in there when we put them under a fair bit of pressure.

"I wish them all the best for the next round.

"The try they scored just before half-time wasn’t ideal – that put us under pressure and maybe we could have been a bit smarter.

"Maybe Kendall could have been a bit smarter as well, but really top sides can defend their goal line when they are put under pressure. For us to beat top sides, we need to improve in that area."

When pushed on Super League official Kendall's performance, he said: "I thought there were a few harsh calls, a few 50-50s and probably 60-40s that went in Catalans' favour, and there were 60-40s that went against us.

"We were on the harsh end of a couple of play four or five penalties and a ridiculous tap-20 call that swung the game in their favour.

"The positive news is we wont be having that ref again."

But he added: "That happens in sport - in rugby league it happens every week. You need to be good enough to win games regardless of what they (referees) do.

"Refereeing is hard and I'm sure he will get some feedback and hopefully be better next time out.

"But I prefer to talk about my players and how hard they worked for each other."

The game was watched by a crowd of over 3,000, with negligible away support from France.

Ford said of the occasion: "This shows the club is making real progress.

"The club have done a lot of work in the city centre and the buzz around the city is pleasing to see. People want to see a team who are committed and my lads certainly are.

"The fans will hopefully go away incredibly happy and proud knowing they've got a side as committed to the club and to them as we are."