York Wasps Academy again gave their opponents, Barrow Border Raiders, an 18-point lead before fighting back only to run out of time.

They eventually went down 30-24 but could well have snatched it if the game had gone on for a couple more minutes.

Lapses in concentration allowed Barrow to storm into an 18-0 lead after 20 minutes, York's best chance coming when Tom Lyons was brought back for a forward pass when sure to score.

The Wasps finally began to get on top but were not helped by some indifferent refereeing which upset the rhythm of both teams.

They got their reward for some excellent pressure when Chris Spain took a high cross-field kick to score in the corner after 39 minutes.

From the restart and in the last set of the half, Lyons crashed over for a second try to leave the Wasps 18-8 behind at the break.

Early in the second half York got to within four points when substitute Ben Peacham crossed for Andy Gargan to convert.

Lack of concentration then struck again as the Barrow kick-off was allowed to bounce into touch and from the scrum, the Raiders scored a converted try.

The hosts seemed to have broken the York resistance when a further try on 65 minutes gave them a 14-point lead.

But the resilient Wasps kept fighting and a Chris Keld try, converted by Andy Gargan, on 75 minutes set up a fantastic finish.

Spain added to the tension in the final minute with his second try of the game to put the Wasps in sight of a draw.

The final set of the game saw York on the attack and a searching down-field kick on the last play of the game almost paid off but the home full-back managed to gather the ball despite the York chase.

York: Kyle Wood, Mat Irving, Chris Spain, Sean Flynn, George Boothroyd, Paul Flynn, Ritchie Hunter, Tom Lyons, Robbie Dolan, Nick Burgess, Danny Brown, Chris Keld, Andy Gargan. Subs (all used) John Dick, Richard Scott, Ben Peacham, Mike Wilden.

Man of the Match: Danny Brown