The steady improvement continued for York Wasps as they turned in another encouraging display against Batley Bulldogs yesterday.

Like Friday's clash with Hunslet, the Wasps emerged empty handed but again made the opposition fight every inch of the way.

New signings Neil Harmon, Rob Roberts and Aaron Campbell all showed up well, in particular former Bradford Bulls prop Harmon who put in a tireless 65 minutes.

His powerful drives were a constant thorn in the Bulldogs side - and this from a man who has not played for nearly a year. What he will achieve when he is at full match fitness is an awesome prospect.

Likewise loose forward Roberts, who directed the play from beginning to end. Although he didn't make a huge impact going forward, his organisation, footballing brain and tactical kicking were clear for all to see and he will only get better as he develops an understanding with his new team-mates.

The former Hull FC star showed one moment of brilliance to create York's consolation try in the closing stages of the match. His quite superb pass allowed Craig Moore to zip straight through the defence untouched to give the Wasps deserved reward for all their endeavour.

Winger Campbell, signed from Hunslet over the weekend, had few chances to shine but demonstrated his speed and strength on a couple of occasions. He too will be one to watch once he has found his feet in the Wasps nest.

Another player who looks to be a real find is Ryan Hardy, who signed on trial from Lock Lane last week. He made an instant impression on his debut in the second row against Hunslet and repeated his efforts yesterday in both the centre and second row.

The former Dewsbury ace showed real power going forward, forcing the Bulldogs to tackle in numbers.

Despite all the promise in the side, the new-look squad have had just two training sessions together and that was apparent in attack. They struggled to create many try-scoring opportunities in an error-laden game but that will almost certainly come with time.

Defensively there were very few lapses, limiting the Bulldogs to just two tries in each half.

The first came after five minutes when the Wasps were caught out down the left side. Andy Heptinstall's long pass created the overlap which Simon Jackson used to send in winger Paul Gledhill.

York should have levelled matters midway through the half following a teasing bomb by Roberts into the corner.

Simon Wray did well to pat the ball back down just inches from the Batley line but too much indecision in the Wasps ranks cost a certain try. Mick Ramsden eventually picked the ball up but by then the defence had re-grouped and the chance was gone.

Just minutes later Batley doubled their lead. The York defence stood off Heptinstall allowing the hooker to make vital ground before off-loading to Jackson who capitalised on some sloppy tackling to scoot over the line.

That was followed by a triple let off for the Wasps in quick succession. Impressive full-back Craig Lingard touched down after a 40-yard run to the line only for the try to be mysteriously disallowed by referee Ian Chatterton.

Batley then looked to be on their way to a certain try when scrum-half Glen Tomlinson broke through but a mix-up ended with Tomlinson crashing into his own player.

Finally Danny Maun got clear down the right wing but put his foot into touch as he tried to evade Campbell's tackle.

That left the half-time score at 8-0 to Batley but the intervention of substitute prop Jeff Wittenberg wrapped up the game for the Bulldogs.

As the match deteriorated into a series of dropped balls, scrums, penalties and strange decisions by the referee, free-flowing rugby went out the window.

It was fitting therefore that the two decisive tries should be basic efforts which owed everything to strength and very little to creativity. Wittenberg used his size to power over from close range for two tries in 20 minutes, both converted by Jeremy Dyson, to kill off York's challenge.

To the Wasps' credit they ended the game on top and were rewarded with Moore's try, converted by Gareth Oulton, to deservedly break their duck.

Had the game cntinued for another 10 minutes the Wasps could have made a fight of it. Instead they will hope to carry on where they left off at home to Workington next week. With another couple of training sessions under their belt by then, who knows what this Wasps side will be capable of?

York Wasps 6 Batley Bulldogs 20

York Wasps Tries: Moore (73mins) Conversions: Oulton 1 YORK: Matt Mulholland 7, Simon Wray 7, Craig Moore 7, Ryan Hardy 8, Aaron Campbell 7, Mark Spears 7, Danny Waite 6, Neil Harmon 8, Alan Pallister 6, Andy Hutchinson 8, Mick ramsden 7, Darren Crake 7, Rob Roberts 7 Subs: Gareth Oulton (Waite 46) 6, John Gwillam (Pallister 20) 7, Paul Couch (Hutchinson 26) 7, Mick Hagan (not used) Re-subs: Hutchinson (Crake 50), Pallister (Gwillam 56), Crake (Harmon 65) Sin-binned: None

BATLEY: Craig Lingard, Jeremy Dyson, Danny Maun, Simon Jackson, Paul Gledhill, Richard Price, Glen Tomlinson, Lee Kelly, Andy Heptinstall, Paul Hicks, Gary Shillabeer, Will Cartledge, Ryan Horsley Subs: Mark Cass (Heptinstall 57), Craig Wright (Hicks 40), David Longo (Jackson 62), Jeff Wittenberg (Kelly 28)

Re-subs: Kelly (cartledge 68) Sin-binned: Shillabeer (70, holding down)

Sent off: None

Updated: 12:41 Tuesday, April 17, 2001