Former York Wasp Richard Goddard enjoyed a dream return to Huntington Stadium - and left his former club in the middle of their worst nightmare.

It wasn't just the two tries and eight goals he scored that hurt. It was his overall brilliance, which he rarely displayed during his time at York, that really turned the screw.

The Wasps, tired from their efforts against Gateshead on Thursday, had nobody with such influence. Although hooker Gareth Dobson and scrum-half Danny Waite tried their best to instigate a bit of life into the side, the Wasps lacked the buzz which had seen them record their first win of the season against Gateshead.

They were still in it at half-time when they trailed just 14-6 but two tries in the space of three minutes early in the second half knocked them for six.

At 26-6 down there wasn't enough left in the tank and the Eagles ran amok. As York caved in, Sheffield found the gaps at will and, in Goddard and player-coach Mark Aston, they had the players to exploit them.

Three tries in the final five minutes brought the Eagles their biggest win of the season, and their first in four games.

It didn't start well for the Wasps as Eagles stand-off Scott Rhodes, playing against his former club, put Ricky Wright through a gap to score under the posts and Goddard slotted over the conversion.

But five minutes later York were back in it. Dobson took the ball from acting half five metres out and burrowed through a melee of players to flop down over the line.

Danny Waite's well struck conversion put the Wasps on level terms, but not for long. Darren Crake was penalised in front of his own sticks for holding down Goddard who banged over the kick.

York were having their fair share of possession but Sheffield always looked the more likely scorers.

That proved to be the case when Chris Robinson's bomb slipped through Matt Mulholland's hands and Goddard picked up the loose ball to score under the posts.

The Eagles came close to adding to their tally on a couple of occasions before the break.

The clearest chance came when Wright looked to be on his way to a second try after being put through by Goddard but Gareth Lloyd got across brilliantly to pull off a last ditch tackle on the line.

York had their moments too, the best coming when Chris Allen showed good vision to punt the ball forward out of a tackle and Rich Darling just failed to get on the end of it.

The Wasps fancied their chances at half-time but those hopes were soon dashed. Three minutes after the re-start Andy Poynter charged over for a soft try which Goddard converted. Three minutes later Goddard again demonstrated his class as he dummied and sidestepped his way past three players for an impressive individual try.

That was the final straw for York who subsequently fell apart.

Goddard's delicate lofted kick into the corner was patted down by a York player and picked up by Heath Cruckshank who did well to slip the ball back inside for winger Iam Thompson to score.

Goddard, the man with the magic touch, could do no wrong and sent the ball straight between the sticks from the touchline.

To their credit York tried to gain some consolation and had a couple of chances to score. Good interchange between Dobson and Tim Rumford down the left wing almost brought a second try for Dobson but he was brought down just short. Then Gareth Oulton split the defence and was haring away to the try line only for French referee Richard Frileux to bring play back for crossing.

In the last five minutes Ian Brown, Wayne Flynn and Steve Walker added further tries for Sheffield. At least Goddard proved he is not perfect as he missed the final conversion from the touchline in the last minute to wreck his 100 per cent record.

But with a personal points tally of 24, and his former club well and truly ripped to shreads, he is unlikely to lose much sleep over that one.

York Wasps 6 Sheffield Eagles 48

York: Tries: Dobson (6mins) Conversions: Waite 1;YORK WASPS: Matt Mulholland 6, Tim Rumford 6, Chris Allen 6, Gareth Lloyd 7, Rich Darling 7, Paddy Handley 6, Danny Waite 7, Mick Hagan 7, Gareth Dobson 8, Craig Forsyth 7, Jason Gatus 7, Darren Crake 6, Shaun Austerfield 7.

Subs: Gareth Oulton (for Handley 55) 6, Craig Moore (Hagan 40) 7, Dave Birdsall (Forsyth 23) 7, Nathan Pincher (Crake 48). Re-subs: Forsyth (Mulholland 40), Hagan (Austerfield 53). Sin-binned: None Sent off: None Penalties: York 8, Sheffield 8 Scrums won: York 10, Sheffield 10 Attendance: 455. HT: 6-14

Sheffield Eagles: Tries: Wright (1min), Goddard (12, 46), Poynter (43), Thompson (56), Brown (75), Flynn (78), Walker (80). Conversions: Goddard 7

Penalties: Goddard 1 SHEFFIELD EAGLES: Andy Poynter, Paul Wells, Steve Walker, Gareth Hewitt, Ian Thompson, Scott Rhodes, Chris Robinson, Steve Hill, Andy Speak, Ricky Wright, Richard Goddard, Heath Cruickshank, Wayne Flynn.

Subs: Mark Aston (Robinson 17), Ian Brown (Wright 51), Chris Chapman (Flynn 33), Darren Summerill (Hill 29). Re-subs: Flynn (Rhodes 45), Hill (Chapman 65).

Blood bin: Wright (Wells 52, returned 59) Sin-bin: None. Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Gareth Dobson: Never stopped trying, even when the game was a lost cause. Lively throughout and battled well. Rewarded with a try.

Updated: 13:06 Monday, February 26, 2001