WAKEFIELD head coach Tony Smith reckoned York City Knights could be a force in LHF National League One.

His side, featuring a host of Super League first-teamers, won 26-12 at Huntington Stadium last night but he thought the Knights gave them a good test.

He praised his side's "rock solid" defence, saying York only scored their two tries once he'd thrown a few young substitutes on, but noted that the home team too were not at full strength.

"Full credit to York," he said.

"They showed a lot of fighting spirit and that they will be a force to be reckoned with (in National League One), and to think they did not have their strongest side out either."

Updated: 10:06 Saturday, January 21, 2006