JAMES FORD has hailed the performances of the York City Knights trio that were loaned to Rochdale Hornets last week.

Knights teenagers AJ Towse, Myles Harrison and Toby Warren joined Betfred League One side Rochdale on a one-week loan ahead of Hornets’ trip to London Skolars.

And all three came in for their league debuts in Rochdale’s 38-34 victory at the New River Stadium.

Towse and Warren started on the wing and at second-row respectively while Harrison came on as an interchange, with the latter making the break that led to Luke Littewood’s late match-winning try.

The trio had played just twice in the first-grade between them prior to the game and Knights head coach Ford expressed his pride in their performances.

“We wanted to get them some exposure at the next level,” explained Ford.

“The feedback that I’ve had so far has been really positive. I respect (Rochdale head coach) Matt Calland a lot and he knows the game.

“So when he is telling me that Toby, Myles and AJ have played well then I believe him. We think a lot of them and I do see them playing for this team.

“Going to London is hard because there’s some big boys in that team. So for three 17-year-olds to go out there and compete as well as they did is really positive.”

Asked whether he had any worries over sending the young trio out on loan, Ford replied: “I always have concerns. But Toby has not played a lot of rugby league, but how he has competed in our contact training sessions with players like Chris Clarkson and Tim Spears, that eased my concerns.

“He played (on loan) for Leeds under-17s against Wigan and he absolutely mullered them.

“I was wondering whether he could muller some blokes and it sounds like he can, so that’s pretty excited.”