COACH Daryl North reckons York City Knights Ladies' decision to go into the Women's Super League was the right one, notwithstanding their bottom-place finish.

The Knights applied for the expanded elite tier in women's rugby a year ago having proved too good for the Merit League.

They bagged only one win in their 12 league fixtures this summer but it came late in the season and underlined the improvement made through the year. They also enjoyed comprehensive wins over Championship sides Barrow and Widnes in the Women's Challenge Cup.

North said of the season as a whole: "The first half was a big reality check and very, very difficult.

"The second half - I'm very proud of the way the girls have dug in.

"We must have played more than 30 players and never had the same team each week and, to be fair, we've had players who aren't ready yet for Super League.

"We've been short on numbers at times but everyone who's pulled the shirt on has been brilliant.

"There has been clear improvement and something to build on and I'm looking forward to next year now."

Asked if, in hindsight, joining Super League was a good move, North said: "Yes, definitely.

"If we went into the Championship I think we would have been up at the top and quite dominant, similar to how (table-toppers) Wakefield have been, and we wouldn't have learnt much playing teams below our level.

"This year, although we've got battered and bruised to start with, as the season has gone on we've lost to the same teams by fewer points and been more competitive, and obviously beating Featherstone was a big fillip.

"We've improved and we've got nearer to where we need to be, and we would not have had that had we played in the Championship.

"Next year we know where we need to be and where we have to push on, and we're looking forward to the challenge."