YORK City Knights will take on another National League One side in the quarter finals proper of the Arriva Trains Cup after finally seeing off Featherstone Rovers at the fourth time of asking.

The Knights beat Featherstone 27-18 in the quarter final play off in a revived performance from last week's defeat to Hunslet and will now travel to National League One Halifax on June 6 in search of a semi-final place.

Chief executive Steve Ferres said: "I am actually quite pleased with it. I think there will be a good crowd there and it is an opportunity to play in a nice stadium.

"Halifax have had a pretty poor start in the National League after being in the Super League last season so they will be expecting more and it will be an interesting game."

Halifax were relegated from the Super League last term and have struggled to get to grips with life in National League One, losing both their opening games, leading to the sacking of Tony Anderson after last week's 25-6 home defeat to Oldham.

Former York player Brad Davis is now poised to link up with Halifax once his playing and coaching commitments at Villeneuve have been completed, and he should be there in time for the visit of the Knights on June 6.

Knights coach Richard Agar, meanwhile, is hoping for a repeat showing of his side's strength and commitment witnessed in a resolute performance against Featherstone yesterday.

He said: "I still would have swapped it for two league points but we were looking at getting the right response after last week and we spoke all week about aiming for it and we got it.

"It was a good all-round team performance over the 80 minutes and it was a really good team display.

"In the past we have made stupid mistakes to concede tries but I thought defensively we were fairly strong and the half backs especially were on the money."

He also praised the discipline after three hairy previous encounters with both sides keeping their cool and added: "I just hope we can replicate that level of performance when it comes to the league next week."

In further good news for Agar, all 17 came through the clash unscathed and that both Alex Godfrey and Danny Briggs could be back in contention for the Sheffield Eagles game next Sunday.

Arrival Trains Cup quarter-final draw: Halifax v York, Barrow v Leigh, Doncaster v Hull KR, Batley v Whitehaven. All ties to be played June 6.

Updated: 11:07 Monday, April 26, 2004