ONE penalty, two points and one spurned opportunity. That was all that stood between York Wasps and their first victory of the season after 80 heart-stopping minutes at Craven Park.

For the second week in a row the Wasps produced a competitive, battling display against one of the NFP's highly fancied teams. But again they failed to get their league campaign off the mark in a match lacking in points but not in talking points.

The two points - the only ones of an absorbing contest - came courtesy of a Hull KR penalty 13 minutes from the end.

The spurned opportunity is one that will surely become a recurring nightmare for talented young half-back Chris Allen.

He split the Rovers defence with a beautiful dummy on the halfway line, drew full-back Andy Taylor perfectly but, with Darren Hughes screaming for the ball on his outside, Allen instead elected to run it himself.

The pass would almost certainly have brought a first York try for Hughes, who later added to the growing casualty list when he was helped from the field with a leg injury. Instead, Allen was comfortably wrapped up by Taylor and the chance, the most clear cut of the match, was gone.

That came after just 20 minutes and nobody could have guessed at that stage it would cost York victory. But as the pattern of the game emerged in the ever-increasing gloom it gradually became clear that the result would hinge on such vital moments.

To be fair to the Robins, they had the bulk of the half chances but were also guilty of squandering them.

In the first half scrum-half Scott Yeaman was unable to cope with the windy conditions and failed to convert two relatively easy penalties.

York on the other hand were never handed such goal-den opportunities. Indeed, they were not awarded one penalty in the entire 80 minutes by referee Peter Taberner.

In contrast, Rovers were given five, and it was the 67th minute one which proved decisive. It was awarded for interfering at the play-the-ball and Chris Charles, having taken over the kicking duties from Yeaman, sent the ball sailing between the sticks from 35 metres out.

Rarely has a penalty been greeted with such elation by supporters but still the Wasps sensed they could nick victory.

Winger Matt Mulholland was tackled inches short after a fine break by prop forward Mick Hagan. And on the last tackle, with what proved to be the last play of the game, York kept the ball alive superbly, virtually every player getting involved as the ball was switched from the left to the right and back again.

Sadly it wasn't quite enough to break down the watertight Rovers defence and as the play ended, the hooter signalled the end of a quite remarkable encounter.

Several players in amber, black and white collapsed at the final whistle, demonstrating the magnificent effort the patched-up side had put into a match which could have gone either way.

Rovers half-back Darren Callaghan tormented his former club with some perfectly timed passes and almost set up a couple of tries.

Hooker Steve Cochran should have scored when he received the ball inches from the sticks but knocked on with the line begging.

Then Charles looked to be heading for the whitewash when he was put through by Callaghan but somehow was held just short.

In the end it didn't matter for Rovers. Their close calls will be quickly forgotten while York will look back at theirs and say 'if only'.

Hull KR 2, York Wasps 0

HULL KR: Andy Taylor, Anthony Chambers, Chris Kitching, Whetu Taewa, Bright Sodje, Darren Callaghan, Scott Yeaman, Jon Aston, Steve Cochran, Rich Hayes, Andy Smith, Richard Slater, Chris Charles.

Subs: Dean Andrews (for Smith 59min), Allan Dunham (Cochran 54), Paul Fletcher (Smith 20), David Luckwell (Hayes 26).

Re-subs: Smith (Taewa 31), Hayes (Aston 69).

Sin-binned: None

Sent off: None

Penalties: Five

Scrums won: Eight

Goal: Charles (67 minutes)

YORK WASPS: Jamie Benn 8, Paul Butterfield 8, Shaun Austerfield 7, Gareth Lloyd 7, Leroy McKenzie 8, Chris Allen 7, Paddy Handley 7, Michael Smith 8, Alan Pallister 8, Craig Forsyth 7, Andy Hill 7, Darren Hughes 8, Spencer Hargrave 7.

Subs: Matt Mulholland (for Austerfield 34 min) 7, Mick Hagan (Forsyth 43) 8, Gareth Dobson (Allen 57) 7. Re-subs: Allen (Hughes 57)

Not used: Adam Briggs

Sin-binned: None

Sent off: None

Penalties: None

Scrums won: Nine

Attendance: 2,110

Referee: Peter Taberner (Wigan)

Half-time: 0-0

Evening Press/Guildford Construction man of the match: Alan Pallister: As ever, the skipper led by example and got involved with everything. One of several outstanding performances along with McKenzie, Hughes and Benn