YORK City Knights coach Mick Cook proclaimed he was proud of his players after a brave display nearly brought victory over Castleford Tigers.

The Knights fell to two tries in the last quarter as the former Super League club won 24-16 at Huntington Stadium yesterday, a result which confirmed the Tigers' progress to the knockout stages of the Northern Rail Cup while ending York's faint hopes of qualifying.

But Cook nevertheless hailed his side's performance as their best of the season, a far cry from the opening day display which precipitated a 52-2 loss away to the competition favourites.

"I'm really proud of the boys," he said. "We tested Castleford. Maybe we were not clinical enough and could have had more, but I'm proud of the effort, especially in defence.

"They asked questions and we answered them pretty well. In the last 20 minutes they looked strong but we hung in there.

"We've got 12 players missing from the squad and Tom Buckenham dropped out in the warm-up, so we've had a bit of strife with injuries.

"We had to stand up and I think the players did the crowd and themselves proud."

The Knights have one more group game to go - away to Hunslet on Good Friday - before the LHF Healthplan National League Two campaign kicks off on Easter Monday at home to Swinton, whose unbeaten start to the season ended with a 54-20 loss at Rochdale yesterday.

Cook added: "We need to build on our performance yesterday and take it into the league competition.

"I think it's been coming. We've been gradually improving as a unit and I would say that was our best performance of the season."

The crowd was 2,340, the Knights' second-best home gate.

Updated: 09:55 Monday, March 21, 2005