York Wasps were forced to field no fewer than seven debutants against league leaders Leigh last night and paid the price with the biggest home defeat in their history.

But the score does not tell the whole story, as the standing ovation the Wasps received at the end demonstrated.

The young side were warmly applauded off the field after a performance which suggests there is light at the end of the tunnel.

To come out of that dark place still standing, however, the current bunch of players must stick together.

There were enough encouraging individual displays to suggest that with hard work and a few weeks together on the training pitch, the Wasps could finally have found the nucleus of their squad.

Four newcomers started the match - Martin Hunt at full-back, Andy Innes on the wing, Ricky Hall at stand-off and his former Hull FC Academy team-mate Luke Judson in the second row.

In addition, the three trialists on the bench all got a run out.

Prop Andy Hutchinson had been named in the team during the build-up. But two other players were brought in at the last minute to make up the 17 - Richard Punchard, son of Wasps' assistant coach Frank, and Lee Badouskas, formerly of Castleford Tigers Alliance and Batley.

The bulk of the players didn't even know each other's names, never mind any moves, so much of the play was improvised.

It was surprising, therefore, that the Wasps' attack looked as good as at any time this season. The major problems were in defence as Leigh's pacey backs and powerful forwards cut through with ease.

It looked ominous for the Wasps early on as Leigh ran in three tries, all converted by Simon Svabic, to go 18-0 up after just ten minutes. At that stage 100-plus points was not unrealistic but to York's credit they were able to rally.

After being hit by that early whirlwind they adjusted to the pace of the game and held their own for the rest of the half.

Leigh built up a 36-6 lead by the interval but at least the Wasps had managed to get on the scoreboard.

Hooker Gareth Dobson ran strongly from acting half and got out the tackle to Judson who did well to force his way over. Oulton added a difficult conversion from the left of the posts.

Judson was one of the most impressive of the debutants, along with Hutchinson who really looked the part after coming on midway through the first half.

He ran strongly and tackled solidly, while Hall showed some enterprising touches at stand-off.

His opposite number Svabic and full-back Neil Turley were the Centurions' inspiration, living up to their billing as two of the best players in the NFP.

Svabic was faultless with the boot, kicking 14 goals from 14 attempts. He also weighed in a couple of tries for a personal contribution of 32 points.

Turley extended his lead at the top of the NFP try-scorers chart with another four touch-downs.

There were some glorious long-range efforts among Leigh's 14 tries - and there could have been more if they hadn't tried to over-elaborate on occasions.

York's second consolation try came after 60 minutes as they trailed 60-6.

Craig Moore, who again looked good with the ball in his hands, stepped beautifully inside Svabic to find the space to go over unopposed.

Oulton again added a tricky conversion to complete a telling display from the scrum-half who probed all night.

Leigh completed the scoring four minutes from time with Willie Swann's second try of the game, but for the Wasps there was a minor triumph.

They kept the score under 90 to avoid their biggest ever defeat which came just a couple of weeks ago at Widnes.

The Wasps can also take solace in the fact their nightmare run of fixtures is finally over.

A few morale-boosting wins are a realistic possibility over the next eight games, starting at rock bottom Chorley a week on Sunday.

York Wasps 12, Leigh Centurions 84

York Wasps: Tries: Judson (18mins), Moore (60) Conversions: Oulton 2. York Wasps: Martin Hunt 6, Tim Rumford 6, Craig Moore 7, Chris Allen 6, Andy Innes 6, Ricky Hall 7, Gareth Oulton 7, Mick Hagan 6, Gareth Dobson 7, Dave Birdsall 6, Luke Judson 7, Darren Crake 6, Nathan Pincher 6.

Subs: Adam Briggs (Pincher 78mins), Richard Punchard (Innes 71), Lee Badauskas (Pincher 27) 7, Andy Hutchinson (Hagan 40) 8. Re-subs: Pincher (Judson 49), Hagan (Crake 68). Blood bin: Hutchinson (Birdsall 23, reversed 40) Sin-binned: None Sent off: None

Leigh Centurions: Tries: Turley (4,23,38,53), Johnson (6,70), Bretherton (9), Swann (16,76), Svabic (46,68), Roden (51), Jones (58), Anderson (64) Conversions: Svabic 14 Leigh Centurions: Neil Turley, Michael Watts, Paul Anderson, Jason Johnson, David Jones, Simon Svabic, Liam Bretherton, Andy Leatham, John Duffy, Dave Whittle, Simon Baldwin, Chris Morley, Willie Swann.

Subs: Jamie Gass (Duffy 21), Martin Roden (Whittle 21), Dave Bradbury (Leatham 54), Keiron Purtill (Anderson 41). Re-subs: Duffy (Baldwin 66), Leatham (Turley 72). Blood bin: Anderson (Bretherton 61, reversed 70) Sin-bin: None.

Sent off: None

Updated: 13:46 Friday, March 09, 2001