The injury curse has once again struck York Wasps in-form loose forward Mick Ramsden.

Ramsden, who has missed much of the last two seasons through injury, has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign.

The 29-year-old damaged ankle ligaments in yesterday's 56-0 defeat at Sheffield Eagles and coach Lee Crooks confirmed after the game that he will not be fit for the final five matches.

It is another cruel set-back for Ramsden who is just hitting peak form after a lengthy lay-off.

He missed the first part of this season with a hamstring problem and spent much of last term out of action with damaged knee ligaments.

One of the side's few remaining profes-sionals, the loss of Ramsden is a major blow.

He was York's best player by some distance at Don Valley Stadium yesterday as the Wasps were comprehensively beaten.

A noteable absentee from the side was ex-Leeds Rhinos winger Leroy Rivett who was expected to make his eagerly-anticipated debut.

Crooks revealed Rivett is suffering from tonsillitis and has not yet trained with his new team-mates.

However, Crooks is hopeful he will join up with the Wasps next week and should be available for the trip to Barrow on Sunday.

The Wasps boss had no answers for his side's poor display at Sheffield, particu-larly in the first half when they trailed 38-0.

"It was a disappointing first half, better second half. It's hard to put your finger on it," he said.

"I've said before we aren't inundated with quality players but they've shown that when they put their minds to it and are prepared to have a go they can com-pete.

"Last week at 6-6 at half-time we were in with a chance but didn't have a go in the second half. This week it was the reverse.

"In the second half we improved, the players fronted up a lot more, the tack-ling got better and we had a bit of commitment.

"From my point of view I've got to try and motivate the players to keep going and also improve them ability wise.

"Hopefully by the end of the season we can get it right in attack and defence and be able to say that for 80 minutes we gave it our best shot which we haven't been able to say for a long time.

"If the players can walk off the field and say we've done well for 80 minutes than I think they will have achieved something."

Planning is now starting for next season and Crooks confirmed they already had players in mind.

"We've identified the players we want to talk to but we can't talk to them until after June.

"For the players we've got here now, the carrot at the end of the season is that the club are now in a position where we've got two or three things regarding sponsorship which are hopefully going to come off and the players have got a chance to play for contracts for next year.

"If that's not an incentive enough, especially for the lads coming out of the amateur game, then I don't know what is."

Updated: 09:41 Monday, June 04, 2001