JAMES FORD admitted raising his eyebrows at some of the test results at York City Knights' first session of pre-season - as they were that good.

New head coach Ford has run the rule over his 2015 squad after they reported back for duty at the club's new York St John University training base on Haxby Road.

And, while initial testing can occasionally show some players up for letting themselves go a little too much post-season, Ford declared himself delighted with his charges.

New signing Pete Aspinall, along with Jake Joynt and player/assistant-coach Mark Applegarth, who have returned to the club, led the way in the lifts, while Harry Carter, Tyler Craig and Ben Dent gave new recruit Jamal Chisholm - once rated the fastest man in rugby league - a run for his money in speed tests.

Former Heworth ARLC junior Craig was also a front-runner in the aerobic tests, while Greg Minikin, Colton Roche and Jonny Presley ranked well in agility and power ratings.

Overall, Ford was impressed. "It was really pleasing. No-one reported back in a worrying state - the conditioners had no concerns - and the test results were very positive.

"We expected that. We have some athletic players in this squad. But I still raised eyebrows once or twice at one or two scores - in a good way.

"Generally we've got strong, fast players who can get stronger and faster."

Ford described some of young centres Minikin and Craig's results as "outstanding" - the latter having always tested well in pre-season since his surprise rise into the first-team squad ranks in 2011.

"I think that's a legacy of Chris Thorman's time at York," said Ford of Craig's fitness.

"Tyler was introduced to the first team squad when Chris (former Super League star and now a coach at Huddersfield) was a player and a coach here. Chris was a very good all-round athlete and was very good aerobically, and Tyler will have looked up to him and taken a lot from him in developing that side of his fitness."

Asked if the squad's scores were likely to plateau or head on an upward curve, Ford said: "I've got a lot of confidence in the support staff and conditioning team here.

"We want to develop all these attributes. The players are starting from a good point and will get better."