YORK City Knights chief executive Steve Ferres was disappointed to draw Huddersfield Giants away after the team won through to the last eight of the Powergen Challenge Cup in astonishing fashion.

The Knights beat Featherstone 29-26 in a thriller at Post Office Road yesterday and Ferres was hoping to be rewarded with a money-spinning tie against one of Super League's big-guns in the draw that followed.

"We've got what we've got," he told the Evening Press. "We're a bit disappointed for the players. I would have liked Hull, St Helens or Wigan and I thought the players deserved a big draw after that performance.

"It wasn't the tie we wanted but the boys can go to the McAlpine Stadium and enjoy themselves. We would have preferred one of the bigger Super League clubs either at home or away, but we will still enjoy ourselves and have a good day out."

As for the team's performance in winning through against all odds, he added: "After yesterday it's 100 per cent hats off to the lads. It was absolutely superb and they showed a tremendous amount of character."

Knights chairman Roger Dixon also had high praise for Richard Agar's troops. "The performance was uniquely special and it makes you so proud," he said.

"It would have been harsh if we had lost, and I thought we might have expected just one try too many once Featherstone re-took the lead with a few minutes to go.

"It's all credit to the team, to Richard Agar and to the back-room staff that the Knights had the heart to come back and score such a breathtaking and deserved winner.

"They should be very proud of themselves - we certainly are."

Dixon's wife, Wendy, close to tears with the emotion, added: "It was Roger's 56th birthday on Saturday and that was the best birthday present he could have wished for."

Powergen Challenge Cup quarter-final draw:

Huddersfield v YORK CITY KNIGHTS

St Helens v Hull

Whitehaven v Warrington

Wigan v Wakefield

Ties to be played over weekend of March 27-28.

Updated: 11:11 Monday, March 15, 2004