Less than two years ago, York Wasps ended their season with a 70-8 hammering of a despairing Oldham side at Huntington Stadium.

Yesterday the re-built Roughyeds showed just how quicky the tables can turn. The scoreline was almost identical only this time it was Oldham who were a class apart.

That should serve as some comfort for the Wasps who now find themselves in a similar position to the beleaguered Oldham side of 1999.

So too should the fact that, although the scoreline was similar to York's last three outings, the performance was 100 per cent better.

Hard work and commitment is all coach Lee Crooks has been asking for. On this occasion he certainly got it - and a lot more besides.

There were plenty of pleasing aspects, not least that York completed all their sets of six in the first half. With a squad packed full of amateurs and triallists it was inevitable that fitness would be a telling factor and so it proved.

But by doing the basics right for long periods of the game it meant they were at least competitive in parts, particularly in the early stages.

Another three debutants in the shape of Lee Turnbull at full-back, Andy Webster in the centre and Luke Billyeald on the bench took the number of players used by the Wasps this season to 50.

And with another four players - Lee McNichol, Callum Irving, Scott Acklam and Gavin Smith - all having played for the first time last week, it should have been a walk in the park for the visitors.

That was the way it looked when winger Warren Barrow went in for the first of his three tries after just two minutes. He was on hand to pick up the ball after Pat Rich had out-jumped Tim Rumford to pat down scrum-half Keith Brennan's high kick into the left corner.

However, York battled gamely as they did all afternoon and, to the surprise of everyone in the ground, deservedly drew level four minutes later.

Captain Gareth Dobson led by example, throwing a dummy from acting half then scooting through a gap to dive over the line. Gareth Oulton's conversion put York back on terms and provided a spurt of confidence in the Wasps ranks.

They enjoyed a good spell of pressure until the 13th minute. Wasps' winger Callum Irving's failed attempt to intercept Anthony Gibbons' long pass left a huge gap which pace man Joey Hayes was happy to capitalise on.

Two minutes later and Oldham were in total control, Anthony Gibbons finishing off some brilliant inter-changing involving John Hough, Dave Gibbons and Brennan.

From there on it was easy for the Roughyeds as York's lack of training showed both in terms of strength and creativity.

Prop Andy Hutchinson had a towering game, along with front row colleagues Acklam and Dobson and second rower Darren Crake.

But their efforts were not enough as Oldham exploited York's weaknesses by playing a free-flowing, expansive game which fully utilised their three-quarters.

By half-time they were 30-6 up, Jason Clegg, York-based Rich and Barrow adding to the tally.

The second half was almost an exact replica of the first, Oldham scoring early on, the Wasps holding their own for ten minutes then a quick brace of tries as Oldham exerted their superiority.

Both Barrow and Gibbons went on to complete their hat-tricks, while Dave Gibbons, Neil Roden, Daryl Lacey and Gavin Dodd all got on the scoresheet.

It was still looking like a respectable defeat until the last ten minutes when Oldham ran in three tries. The last was converted by Rich from the touchline with the final kick of the game to bring up the 70-point mark, a cruel ending to a brave effort.

York Wasps 6, Oldham 70

York Wasps: Lee Turnbull 6, Tim Rumford 6, Lee McNichol 6, Andy Webster 6, Callum Irving 6, Lee Badauskas 6, Gareth Oulton 6, Scott Acklam 7, Gareth Dobson 7, Andy Hutchinson 8, Gavin Smith 6, Darren Crake 7, Nathan Pincher 6.

Subs: Adam Briggs (not used), Luke Judson (Smith 47) 6, Luke Billyeald (McNichol 28) 6, Craig Forsyth (Hutchinson 40) 6. Re-subs: McNichol (Rumford 37), Hutchinson (Acklam 55), Rumford (McNichol 62) Sin-binned: None Sent off: None

Oldham: AGavin Dodd, Joey Hayes, Anthony Gibbons, Pat Rich, Warren Barrow, Neil Roden, Keith Brennan, Andy Proctor, John Hough, Jason Clegg, Phil Farrell, Chris Farrell, Dave Gibbons. Subs: Daryl Lacey (Hayes 33), Lee Doran (Clegg 49), Danny Guest (Proctor 49), Kevin Mannion (C Farrell 57). Sin-binned: D Gibbons (36 mins, dissent) Sent off: None

Updated: 11:36 Monday, April 02, 2001