JAMES FORD has expressed his confidence that York City Knights Ladies can produce an upset against Leeds Rhinos.

The Ladies are bidding to reach successive Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup finals with victory on Sunday (2.30pm).

To do so though, they must first overcome Leeds - last year’s beaten Grand Finalists, the former Super League champions and Cup winners in 2018 and 2019.

York suffered a narrow 22-18 defeat in September’s Super League play-off semi-final to Leeds but men’s head coach Ford believes the Knights can go one better in 2022.

“The York Ladies have impressed me every time they’ve played,” he enthused.

“As a team, they’re coming on leaps and bounds and they’ve got some really eye-catching individuals in there as well who have plenty of talent.

“I’m confident that they’ll come out on the right side of the scoring ledger and set up that final against St Helens. I think everyone in rugby wants to see that.

“Have we closed the gap? Can we go past them? Let’s see.”