Back on board Andy Precious has called for a final show of resilience from his York Wasps team-mates to avoid the ultimate humiliation in their last two games of the season.

Yesterday's 92-2 defeat at Featherstone Rovers is followed by a home clash with second placed Widnes next week and a trip to champions Leigh on the final day of the season.

Both teams have the potential to inflict cricket scores on the hapless Wasps but Precious, who has just returned from a broken ankle, is hoping York can salvage some pride.

"All we can do is give our best. We've got to not give in and keep going," said an exhausted Precious after completing the full 80 minutes yesterday.

"The mood in the camp is not too bad considering the defeats we've been getting. The lads are still quite buoyant.

"The team are just lacking a bit of experience but they've got to play to gain that experience. We can't afford to bring in experienced players so it's catch 22."

Precious broke his ankle after just one minute of the opening match of the season against Doncaster.

Since then he has been working away in Newcastle which delayed his return until last week.

"I was sad that I got injured. I contemplated retiring but I missed it too much," he revealed. "It's sad to see the state the club's in. I didn't want to desert them when they were going down so I came back."

It is virtually a completely new team to the one which Precious left in December and he admitted: "It was a big shock to the system but I still enjoy it. It's good to be back. My mind is set to carry on next year but with my job (in carpets and flooring) I have to work away a lot so it depends what work comes up."

Precious was forced to play the full game after fellow prop Mick Hagan withdrew due to personal reasons.

The absence of Hagan and Callum Irving, who broke down on the motorway, meant the Wasps again had to name kit man Steve Harris on the bench.

Prop Carl Sayer and hooker Steve Thickbroom both made their debuts from the bench but three other new trialists Lee Bargate, Joel Nelson and Omar Mehdi - are not available until next week.

With Hagan, Andy Hutchinson, Simon Wray and possibly Shaun Austerfield all returning next week, coach Lee Crooks is keeping his fingers crossed they can put up good fight against Widnes.

He was less than impressed with their efforts yesterday and said: "Our preparation all week has been around the players going out and having a go.

"I tried to liken it to an amateur team playing a professional team in the Challenge Cup, going out to show they can mix it with a better team.

"This was a good chance for us to show we can do it against the better teams in the NFP but they failed to take that chance.

"The players we've got are helping the club out but the harsh reality is they're not up to the standard we require to compete at this level.

"Every week I question what I'm doing and if there's anything else I can do to improve things but there's nothing more I can do.

"I really fear for what will happen next week and the week after."

Updated: 09:31 Monday, June 18, 2001