York Wasps are back. That was the message reverberating loud and clear around South Leeds Stadium last night after York finally put the buzz back into the Wasps.

They would have been happy just to avoid another 70-point hammering but instead almost achieved the impossible - a victory.

York had fought back to within four points of the Hawks in the second half and were sensing only their second win of the season.

In the end it proved just beyond them as David Plange's men ran in a couple of late tries to settle the contest.

But after the horrors of the recent weeks, it was almost as good as a win.

There were no weak links in another new-look side which saw five more players making their debuts.

Wingers Simon Wray and Phil Musgrave made solid starts, stand-off Mark Spears added a whole new dimension to the Wasps attack in an eye-catching debut, powerful second-rower Ryan Hardy, on loan from Lock Lane, made a big impact with some strong runs while little substitute John Gwillam, brought in from Keighley Albion, showed plenty of promise.

There were storming displays once again from props Scott Acklam and Andy Hutchinson who are developing into a formidable front row partnership. Lee Bardauskas showed off his superb ball-handling skills in an accomplished display and there was a strong showing at the back by Matt Mulholland on his return from injury.

With former Super League pair Rob Roberts and Neil Harmon still to come into the side, along with Hunslet winger Aaron Campbell, there are reasons to suggest that the next win for York will not be long in coming.

Indeed, it could so easily have happened last night, although it looked a long way off when Hunslet raced into a 12-0 lead within the first ten minutes.

Some weak tackling allowed second rower Craig Ibbotson to force his way over then Craig Morphet popped out a fine pass to send loose forward Guy Adams in for the second, both converted by Craig Robinson.

But after a slow start the Wasps gradually settled and fought their way back into contention.

Acklam did supremely well to drive over the line from close range despite the attention of three tacklers and Danny Waite tagged on a good conversion.

It was developing into a close contest between two evenly matched sides and it soon became even closer when Bardauskas bagged York's second try.

Spears put Hardy through a gap and the big second rower handed off one player, drew the last man and off-loaded to Bardauskas on his outside to finish off. Waite failed with the goal attempt to leave York just two points adrift.

A rare mistake from Mulholland let Hunslet regain the initiative after half an hour.

They won a scrum when he failed to take a difficult bomb just yards from his own line and former Heworth hooker Anthony Howcroft capitalised, stretching out to ground the ball over the line after being tackled just short.

Robinson's conversion left the half-time score 18-10 to Hunslet but York were right back in it again 15 minutes after the restart.

A Hunslet kick re-bounded off Alan Pallister in the centre of the field and he won the chase to the ball, hacking on before regaining possession. From the next play Spears' long ball found Craig Moore and he rounded Hawks winger Chris Haywood to celebrate his return with a fine try.

At 18-14 it was anybody's game, chants of 'York, York' coming from the travelling fans who sensed an upset.

But with scrum-half Robinson, who had a spell on loan at York last season, dictating the play with some superb kicking it was the Hawks who had the edge.

Mick Banks slipped a ball brilliantly out of the tackle for centre Michael Wainwright to cross, then York lost Pallister for ten minutes after he was sin-binned for holding down.

Although they did well to hold out during that period, they had to finish the game with 12 men after injury forced Bardauskas from the field.

Having made all their substitutions they were unable to bring on a replacement. The extra work took its toll on the Wasps' brave troops and and they conceded another try right at the death, Andy Atha pouncing on Robinson's grubber kick.

Updated: 11:34 Saturday, April 14, 2001