YORK City Knights boss James Ford hailed his team's "concentration and communication" after they won 26-12 away to a dangerous Swinton Lions side - to rise to joint-second in the Betfred Championship table.

Swinton underlined their threat when winning at second-placed Toulouse last week but the Knights turned them over on their own Heywood Road turf thanks to a stoic first-half show combined with a three-try blitz in 10 second-half minutes.

The Lions notched two consolation tries but by then the spoils were on their way back to the Minster city - lifting Ford's men level on points with Toulouse following their defeat to runaway leaders Toronto.

The Knights are below both the French outfit and Leigh Centurions on points-difference but are now two points above Featherstone and Sheffield and four above Bradford Bulls with nine games left in the race for the top-five play-offs.

Said Ford: "I was really pleased with what we did. Swinton are a cracking side. I spoke all week talking them up about how they cause teams all sorts of problems.

"To keep them scoreless for over 70 minutes is a massive achievement, certainly given the size of the playing field, the repeat sets they had and the penalties and decisions that went against us and put us under the cosh.

"To be on the back of a 6-0 or 7-0 penalty count at one point in the second half made it tough but to come through is a sign of a really resilient team that's very together and values hard work.

"They (Swinton) do flip numbers on you and try to create overlaps, certainly on this big field, and it causes stress on your defence. It's mightily hard to put a detailed plan together for everything Swinton do, there's that much variation.

"So I was really pleased with how we concentrated and communicated to get by defensively."

York led 8-0 at half-time but Swinton at times were in the ascendancy before the Knights' decisive three-try salvo.

Ford added: "The game could have gone either way. Swinton will beat plenty of teams, certainly here.

"In the second half we pulled away despite a penalty count of six or seven against us. It took a lot of energy, desire and honesty to keep defending as we did, and I'm really proud of the players' efforts and endeavour."

York had two Connor Robinson tries rules out for obstruction, likewise Swinton had two disallowed for obstruction and a knock-on respectively. There were several other close shaves.

Ford said of referee Mike Mannifield's display: "I'm not sure it was right to rule out those tries but the video often makes a liar out of you so we'll have a look at that.

"The last time I watched a video back (when Mannifield was reffing), he was good, and he managed the players well.

"A referee is always going to get calls wrong. It could have been our execution and, if so, we will endeavour to be better. If the referee's got it wrong, I'm sure he will endeavour to be better.

"A frustrating thing (with obstruction calls) is it seems to only get pulled when a try is scored. A couple of times Swinton did it but they've not scored so it's not a penalty.

"He was at least consistent in terms of disallowing scores for both sides, but there does seem to be inconsistency when there are line breaks."

He added: "I've criticised officials previously but when I've watched the video back I've realised they might not have been as wrong as it first appeared."

Knights debutant Cameron Scott, on loan from Hull FC, opened the scoring in the 13th minute amid an excellent personal display.

Ford said of the teenage recent England Academy captain: "He did what I thought he would so. He was strong coming out of yardage, he made a couple of half-breaks and he took his try really well. He was also strong in the second half.

"He's a young boy playing at a good standard in the Championship - you can understand why he's held in such high regard."

The Knights picked up a few knocks, with Liam Harris, Jack Teanby and Matty Marsh among those needing to be assessed ahead of Wednesday's 1895 Cup quarter-final against Batley Bulldogs.

Ford had already said he would make alterations for the midweek tie, and he confirmed: "There will be changes, not just because of injuries, but because we've got good players fresh and eager to come back in to remind me just how good they are and remind themselves what a big part they have to play for this club this season."