YORK City Knights boss James Ford says the success of his team and Bradford Bulls in the Betfred Championship this season is a fillip for League One.

The Knights, who won the third-tier crown in stunning fashion last season, came from behind to draw 14-14 at Batley on Sunday, with the point being enough to send them back to second in the table with six games left. Some pundits had tipped them for a relegation scrap.

Meanwhile, Bradford, who also went up last term after finishing runners-up in League One, drew 34-34 with Swinton to eke back up to sixth place, just one point off the play-off places and four below York.

The two sides, who played out two classic league clashes last season, meet at Bootham Crescent on Sunday.

“They’re a very well-coached side with some fantastic individuals and they’re on a really good run,” said Ford.

“I’m sure it will be a fantastic game. There’s a lot at stake for both sides.

“But what an accolade it is for League One – the two promoted sides, with six games to go, to be both in and around the play-offs.

“Bradford will fancy their run-in and fancy their chances of getting in the five.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful for the teams coming up if we both could get in there.”

He quipped: “If you’d have said we’d be second with six games to go, I would have probably taken it, if I’m honest. Probably.

“So I’m really happy with where we’re at.”

Meanwhile, Ford joked his team would work on kicking goals from inside their own half in future training sessions, following Sunday’s late drama.

Half-back Connor Robinson tried to win the match with a near-impossible penalty attempt from 63 metres after the final hooter had sounded.

“We could have won it in the end - if only Connor could kick a goal from 65 metres,” Ford quipped.

“There were two options. We could have kicked for touch and (with the one tackle remaining) gone for a drop-goal straight away, but you’re dropping a goal from the edge and you’ve got 13 blokes coming to kick pressure you.

“Connor’s got that (a long-range penalty) in him. He has a little swagger and he’s a bit over-confident at times but he comes up with some special things. He’s the one player in our team that’s going to kick a goal from 40 metres away from our own line, and he wasn’t far away.

“We’ll work on it.”