ANY York City Knights fans who went home disappointed by last night's 18-16 defeat to a young Castleford side should not be too downhearted.

Okay, Cas did only bring an Academy team for the Huntington Stadium friendly, but Knights coach Mick Cook had been right to say the Tiger cubs would prove a decent test. They were indeed no mugs, especially in defence where they kept a tight, well-organised line.

More significantly for the Knights, Cook fielded something of a development side of his own, with half a dozen players of Academy age and no fewer than seven of the 19 on show having been in the amateur game just a couple of months ago.

Those statistics alone should lessen the potency of any failings on the night, the most notable of which was the team's inability to turn territory into pressure or attacks into points.

Nine probable first-team starters were not involved, and if you throw the likes of Dan Potter, Dave Buckley, Adam Sullivan, Rob Spicer, Jim Elston et al into the mix, things look far better than last night's scoreline might suggest ahead of the National League Two season.

In particular, the return of Scott Rhodes for the friendly against Leeds a week tomorrow, plus the arrival of Hull loanee Anthony Thackeray, should instil some zip at half-back and take some of the weight off the shoulders of Andy Gargan, who has looked anything but out of place, yet, it must be remembered, is still very new to the semi-professional game.

York began the match on top and a fine long pass from Gargan gave Johnny Waldron half a chance. His pace got him to the line but he was knocked into the flag. Waldron, who had looked good when taking the ball from dummy-half, was later carried off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

The notable exception in the young Cas team was first-teamer Danny Brough, and he proved the difference between the sides in the 40 minutes he played. Knights fans know all about his left boot and, while his kicks as expected troubled the back markers, it was a step and turn that put Cas ahead as he spun away from Gargan to touch down and convert.

York lacked a cutting edge in the final third and at times looked too flat, and Brough's penalty on the stroke of half-time increased the lead to 8-0.

Knights had chances to hit back before Gargan's delayed pass saw Alex Godfrey roar in, a try which came on the back of fine play by Joe Helme and Chris Spurr which saw Lee Mapals denied by an ankle tap.

Mapals' pace then created an opening for Godfrey to get his second try just before the hour mark as the game sparked into life.

Cas retook the lead as a Jason Payne try made it 12-10, though he seemed to benefit from some Gridiron-style blocking, but Knights hit back as a wonderful offload from Tabua Cakacaka put George Rayner in.

Cas were twice denied by John Smith, and once by a touch judge who ruled out a try, before they finally won it at the death as Joe Westerman's chip was touched down by second-row Michael Knowles, with loose-forward Westerman keeping his nerve to goal from the touchline.

Knights 16, Castleford Tigers 18 Knights: Rayner, Waldron, Palmer, C Spurr, Godfrey, Liddell, Gargan, Cakacaka, Wray, McDonald, Smith, Priestley, Grundy. Subs (all used): Esders, Williams, Helme, Hodgson, Mapals, Watling.

Tries: Godfrey 50, 59; Rayner 72. Goals: Palmer 50; Gargan 72.

Castleford: Owen, Shenton, Jones, Bassinder, Ripley, Croft, Brough, Boyle, Johnson, C Potter, Payne, Knowles, Westerman. Subs from: Lee, Duckworth, Cording, Watts.

Tries: Brough 14; Payne 66; Knowles 79. Goals: Brough 14, 40; Westerman 79.

Referee: Jamie Leahy (Dewsbury) Attendance: 1,043