YORK City Knights boss James Ford hailed the work of League One minnows Coventry Bears in expanding rugby league in the Midlands - after two of their old boys starred in the Knights' stunning thrashing of Barrow Raiders.

Joe Batchelor, on his debut back at York on loan from St Helens, scored two tries in the opening 10 minutes, and Jason Bass notched an 18-minute hat-trick in the second half as the Knights walloped their former bogey team 56-0 at Bootham Crescent.

Ford had plucked both from Coventry, having seen something in the pair of them during their respective times at the expansion club.

Ford said of the Bears: "It's great they're expanding the game and without that those two boys might not have had the opportunity to play at this level and therefore wouldn't be with us now.

"They're both good athletes although the thing that probably endears them to me the most is their 'coachability' and their attitude towards improving and learning and trying to get better."

Batchelor, a former Sheffield academy player, caught the eye playing for Coventry in 2016 and signed for York that winter. He ended his debut year as The Press and club's Player of the Year after 15 tries in 22 appearances, and he starred in the Knights' League One title-winning campaign last term with 23 tries in 27 appearances, earning a full-time move to Super League. He shone both in the second row and centres.

Leicester-born Bass, an England Students international who played at the 2017 Students World Cup during his time at Newcastle University, was a standout player for Coventry for three years before making a similar move to York this winter, likewise arriving as a relative unknown.

He can play across the back line but has started all three Championship matches so far in the centres.

Asked if he believes Bass can follow in Batchelor's footsteps, Ford said: "First of all you've got to credit Coventry.

"I'm certainly not going to put any pressure on Jason Bass. He's still got a lot to learn and a lot to improve on but I'm certainly pleased with the direction he's moving in at the minute."

Meanwhile, Ford also hailed veteran Ben Cockayne as a role model for the way he likewise strives to improve regardless of his age.

The 35-year-old set up several of the tries in a man-of-the-match performance at stand-off against Barrow, on his 350th career appearance.

Most of those previous appearances, the bulk with Hull KR and Wakefield Trinity, came at full-back or wing but Ford switched him to half-back last season and the former Super League star has relished the role.

“He is a good communicator and a good organiser and that part of the role really suits him,” said Ford.

“He’ll openly admit he’s still learning stuff about playing at half-back, but his approach and attitude towards that is good for the younger players to see.

“Here’s a bloke who’s played 350 games, a heap of them in Super League, and he was even in the England squad, and he’s still willing to come down and learn.

“As long as the more experienced boys have got that mentality the younger blokes have got no option but to follow suit.”