The new year failed to bring about a change in fortune for injury-ravaged York Wasps who once again received scant reward for another battling performance.

With just 16 fit players - plus kit man Steve Harris who was installed as an emergency substitute - the Wasps were always going to be in for a tough time against a Batley side tipped for a big season.

But as in their previous four games this term, York showed true grit only to be left still searching for that elusive first win.

The Mount Pleasant pitch, partly still frozen, cut up as the game wore on and contributed to a comedy of errors in the second half. With the match finely poised at 4-4 20 minutes from time, it was Batley who were able to capitalise on the Wasps' mistakes to clinch the vital scores.

It was heartbreak again for Lee Crooks men who are quickly learning they cannot win matches on commitment alone.

Prop Craig Forsyth epitomised that commitment with an incredible stint in the front row. The lack of substitutes meant he played the full 80 minutes without a break and was still running strongly at the end.

Sub Alan Pallister was also forced to play at prop instead of his customary position of hooker, full-back Jamie Benn had a spell at stand-off, Matt Mulholland took his turn at full-back and young forward Adam Briggs was forced to play his part from the bench.

The enforced changes meant York at times looked out of sorts in attack which contributed to their failure to get over the tryline.

It started well for the Wasps as Benn booted them into the lead after just two minutes with a 25-metre penalty.

A low scoring encounter was the last thing that was expected when Batley replied with a try two minutes later. Influential loose forward Ryan Horsley put a delicate grubber kick into the corner and centre Davide Longo reached it ahead of Benn and Mulholland to claim the try.

Jeremy Dyson's touchline conversion clipped the outside of the left post to leave Batley two points ahead.

Wasps stand-off Paddy Handley tried a few similar grubber kicks which tested the Bulldogs defence but did not produce the same result as Horsley's effort.

It kept Batley on the back foot though, and York's long spell of pressure was finally rewarded midway through the half.

A high tackle by Batley prop Andy Richardson on Wasps loose forward Darren Hughes allowed Benn to comfortably dispatch his second penalty from almost an identical position to the first.

Veteran winger Roger Simpson had a couple of good breaks for Batley in the first half while Australian scrum-half Glen Tomlinson charged down Handley's kick to race 40 metres before being hauled down by Benn.

It was Batley who had the best chance to add to their tally shortly after the restart. Stand-off Simon Jackson only had to take Danny Maun's pass on the right wing for an almost certain try but dropped it with the line begging.

Batley, playing down the slope in the second half, took full advantage to keep York under the cosh.

Surprisingly they opted to run the ball instead of kicking for goal when they were awarded a penalty in front of the Wasps sticks.

It seemed to have paid off when Tomlinson sent Horsley over the line only for referee John Farrell to rule out the try for obstruction on the tackler.

After 40 minutes without a score, the Bulldogs took what appeared to be the safe option ten minutes later when they were awarded an even easier penalty chance. Dyson did make the kick, but it was a close run thing as the ball only went between the posts after bouncing off the right upright.

A few minutes earlier Leroy McKenzie had spurned York's best try-scoring opportunity of the game. Benn, who had switched to stand-off to replace the substituted Handley, and Mulholland worked an overlap down the left but McKenzie fumbled the pass.

With the result still in the balance and the Wasps pushing for the match-winning try, former Huddersfield prop Jeff Wittenberg came up with the goods for the home side.

The giant front rower looked to be on his way for a try after bursting through the middle only for Mulholland to pull off a brilliant tackle which knocked the ball from the big man's grasp.

But with ten minutes to go Wittenberg had the last laugh when forcing his way over the line from close range amid a crowd of players. Dyson added the simple conversion to leave York the near impossible task of scoring twice in the last ten minutes.

Another cruel ending for the Wasps, who will be hoping the rest of this year turns out better than the last.

Batley Bulldogs 12, York Wasps 4

Northern Ford Premiership

Monday, January 1, 2001

Batley Bulldogs

Tries: Longo (4mins), Wittenberg (69)

Goals: Dyson 2

BATLEY BULLDOGS: Craig Lingard, Jeremy Dyson, Danny Maun, Davide Longo, Roger Simpson, Simon Jackson, Glen Tomlinson, Craig Richards, Andy Heptinstall, Andy Richardson, Gary Shilabeer, Will Cartledge, Ryan Horsley.

Subs: Mark Cass (for Heptinstall 57mins), Andy Wray (Richardson 21), Jeff Wittenburg (Richards 15). Re-subs: Richardson for Wray 55. Blood bin: Jamie Coventry (Horsley 16, returned 29)

Sin-binned: None

Sent off: None

Penalties: Three

Scrums won: Eleven

York Wasps

Goals: Benn 2

YORK WASPS: Jamie Benn 7, Matt Mulholland 7, Chris Allen 6, Paul Butterfield 7, Leroy McKenzie 6, Paddy Handley 6, Gareth Oulton 7, Mick Hagan 7, Gareth Dobson 7, Craig Forsyth 8, Craig Moore 7, Michael Smith 7, Darren Hughes 7.

Subs: Tim Rumford (for Handley 40mins) 6, Adam Briggs (Hughes 58) 6, Alan Pallister (Hagan 23) 7. Re-subs: Hagan (for Pallister 70), Pallister (Dobson 72)

Not used: Steve Harris

Sin-binned: None

Sent off: None

Penalties: Eight

Scrums won: Nine

Attendance: 607

Referee: John Farrell (Widnes)

Half-time: 4-4

Evening Press/Guildford Construction man of the match: Craig Forsyth: For the third successive match, Forsyth played the full 80 minutes and was a tower of strength throughout, leading the front row superbly