YORK Wasps' 8-0 defeat by Hunslet Hawks last night will have raised more questions than it answered as coach Lee Crooks looks to determine his first-choice side.

All 21 fit players got a run-out at a rain-sodden Huntington Stadium but few really stamped their authority on a dreary game.

The nature of the match - mistakes, few flowing moves and little to shout out - was understandable given that both sides are in the midst of a rebuilding programme.

The Wasps at least have two more chances to gel before the important business gets underway on December 3.

And it is likely that their next outing, away at Featherstone next Friday, will see Crooks move a step closer to finalising the side which will turn out against Doncaster Dragons on the opening day of the season.

Last night's game was nothing more than a chance for players to shake off the cobwebs after a long close season.

The 275 spectators who braved the conditions shouldn't read too much into the performance, or the result which came courtesy of two Hunslet tries in the first 15 minutes from full-back Hamish Munton and loose forward Mick Coyle.

There were some encouraging signs for the Wasps, particularly in a second-half display which deserved better reward.

Most impressive was winger Leroy McKenzie whose forays in-field caused plenty of problems for the defence.

New scrum-half Gareth Stephens looked lively, prop Craig Forsyth ran well while substitutes Jamie Benn, Gareth Dobson and Craig Moore were all influential.

Worrying for York were the injuries which seemed to pile up. Alan Pallister, Dobson, former Hunslet centre Darren Hughes, McKenzie, Andy Hill and Stephens all went off with knocks but Crooks confirmed they were not serious.

The only doubt for next week's match is Stephens who strained a hamstring.

One black mark was the sending off of New Zealand forward Michael Smith.

A trim looking Smith has obviously been working hard during the summer but his chance to impress was cut short on the stroke of half-time when he laid out Hunslet centre Chris North.

Crooks said it looked "fairly innoccuous" and added: "I think he got punished for a couple of incidents that happened earlier on."

Those incidents involved York loose forward Spencer Hargrave who was sin-binned along with Hunslet skipper Coyle for fighting.

York: Mulholland, Allen, Butterfield, Lloyd, McKenzie, Handley, Stephens, Precious, Pallister, Forsyth, Hill, Smith, Hargrave. Subs (all used): Baxter, Dobson, Briggs, Hughes, Benn, Moore, Pincher, Hagan.

Hunslet: Munton, D Dobson, Higgins, North, Haywood, N Dobson, Houlker, Skerrett, Naylor, Ibbottson, Atha, Moore, Coyle. Subs (all used): Henderson, Jessey, Thompson, Harrison, Hamid, Reid.