YORK City Knights Ladies notched arguably their best result since being formed - and defied their critics - as they won 20-12 at Featherstone Rovers for their first-ever victory in the Women's Super League.

In their 10th league match since being admitted to the elite competition in British women's rugby league, Daryl North's team finally got off the mark thanks to a Paige Stevens double and tries by Emily Farrow and Nat Carr.

The last was set up by scrum-half Katie Langan, last year's Player of the Season, who was back in the team just six weeks after giving birth.

Said a delighted North: "It was the best performance while I've been here, and the result means so much.

"Even though we went unbeaten in the Merit League last year and won the Challenge Shield, this was a better win and means more to us.

"People wrote us off and said we shouldn't be in Super League, that we're not good enough, so to get that first win was massive, and something we can build on.

"We'd been so close at Bradford before they ran away with it in the second half, but here we were bang on for the most part."

Featherstone opened the scoring early on but Stevens equalised with a 20-metre solo try after breaking from the back of a scrum, crashing through between defenders. Kayleigh Waller added the conversion.

York's second try came from the aforementioned defensive effort, as a big hit by Farrow caused a spillage on the hosts' line, with the second-row herself first to react and touch the ball down in goal.

Stevens, named player of the match, blasted through for her second try to increase the 10-4 interval lead, and then second-half substitute Carr - who could only play half a game due to work commitments - sprinted onto a short ball by Langan to find a gap and race 50 metres home, Ellie Hendrie converting.

Featherstone crossed twice in the last eight minutes but there was no way back.

North added of the win: "It was 100 per cent deserved. It's always a bit nerve-wracking when it's not a massive points difference but we never felt like Featherstone would get in it.

"Defensively we were fantastic and didn't let them play. They've got a few England internationals but we closed them down so well and saw the result out."

York now face leaders Wigan at their Haxby Road base on Sunday (2pm).