York Wasps buried the memory of Sunday's club record defeat by Widnes by recording their first league win of the season against fellow strugglers Gateshead Thunder.

Just four days after their 90-6 drubbing, the Wasps bounced back in the best possible way to leave poor Gateshead still without a point at the bottom of the Northern Ford Premiership.

The mastermind behind the rejuvinated Wasps' fine performance was Shaun Austerfield, who had a hand in all four of York's tries.

Hooker Gareth Dobson was also on top form, linking superbly with Austerfield to add the spark which has been missing from the Wasps attack this season.

The pair combined for the Wasps' first try on 13 minutes. Austerfield showed great pace to arc through the defence on the halfway line and slip the ball inside to give Dobson a free run to the line. Danny Waite added the conversion.

Another free-flowing piece of rugby led to York's second try after 21 minutes. Again it was Austerfield who started the move on halfway with a pass which created a gap for Craig Moore. The second rower brushed aside three tackles, off-loaded the ball to the supporting Dobson who threw a speculative pass out to his left where Mulholland gratefully accepted the chance to score his first ever try for the Wasps.

Speedy Gateshead winger Leon Williamson had a try ruled out for a forward pass before Gateshead finally broke their duck. Big prop Andy Grundy looked to be held up just short in a melee of players but somehow roled over to put the ball down over the line.

Waite edged York further ahead with a drop goal a minute before half-time - and there was still time for more drama before the interval.

Austerfield's brilliant pass released Dobson and he had Tim Rumford in support to touch down for his first try for the Wasps.

Another long-range try wrapped the game up for York. Austerfield sent Lloyd on a powerful run to the line but he was brought down and his pass to Waite went to ground. Waite showed presence of mind to chip the loose ball across the field where it was picked up by Rich Darling and he put Chris Allen in for an easy try. Gateshead didn't help their own cause in the second half as they fluffed numerous chances to hit back, but that was of no concern to the Wasps who completed the scoring with a 60th minute penalty from Waite.

YORK WASPS: Matt Mulholland 8, Tim Rumford 8, Gareth Lloyd 7, Chris Allen 7, Rich Darling 7, Paddy Handley 7, Danny Waite 7, Mick Hagan 8, Gareth Dobson 8, Craig Forsyth 7, Jason Gatus 7, Craig Moore 8, Shaun Austerfield 9. Subs: Gareth Oulton (Lloyd 72mins) -, Nathan Pincher (Crooks 55) 7, Adam Briggs (Austerfield 77) -, Lee Crooks (Forsyth 40) -. Re-subs: Forsyth (Hagan 58).

GATESHEAD THUNDER: Mike Johnson, Andy Field, Wes McGibbon, Stephen Hall, Leon Williamson, Scott Dyson, Carl Briggs, Gareth Barron, Roy Southernwood, Andy Grundy, Jim Carlton, Mathew Roberts, Chris Parker. Subs: Martin Gambles (Southernwood 40mins, blood bin), Richard Mervill (Barron 15), Paul Lister (Carlton 38), Stephen Rutherford (Roberts 30). Re-subs: Barron (Grundy 75), Southernwood (Dyson 77).

Referee: Julian King (St Helens)

Attendance: 425