A HOST of top amateurs will join York Wasps' major new signings in a bid to restore some lost pride over the Easter weekend, writes Dianne Hillaby.

Big-name recruits Rob Roberts and Neil Harmon will sit out tonight's game at Hunslet Hawks, ready to be launched in a blaze of glory in Monday's home encounter with Batley Bulldogs.

There is also a possibility that Leeds Rhinos 1999 four-try Silk Cut Challenge Cup final hero Leroy Rivett may be on board by then.

But there will still be plenty of new faces on show at South Leeds Stadium. Winger Simon Wray, signed on a month's loan from Sheffield Eagles yesterday, will make his Wasps debut.

Wray, 31 next month, has not played for the Eagles this season but was a regular first teamer last term when he scored two tries in 28 appearances.

He suffered a foot injury at the start of the campaign and has been kept out ever since because of the form of first choice wingers Paul Wells and Ian Thompson.

His best form came during four seasons at Keighley Cougars, in particular 1997 when he scored eight tries in 30 games.

Wasps coach Lee Crooks said: "It's something we've been trying to sort out for a while. Sheffield haven't got an Alliance side so Simon is not getting a game there."

A more familiar face will be centre-cum-second-rower Craig Moore. He has returned to Huntington Stadium after quitting the club a month ago.

The decision to pay match fees to professionals has prompted him to give it another go, adding some much needed quality and experience to the side.

Six players from the National Conference League could join Moore and Wray in tonight's squad.

The most well-known to York fans will be Acorn's influential captain and loose forward Lee Frank. He played one game for the Wasps in the 1999 season and is now ready for another crack in the professional arena.

Also having trials are a trio from Lock Lane and two players from Cottingham Tigers.

The Lock Lane trio are winger/centre Paul Couch, stand-off Mark Spears and scrum-half/hooker Dave Wolford, all established players with the premier division outfit.

Coming in from Cottingham are centre Gary Mawforth and prolific try-scoring winger Phil Musgrave, a ready-made three-quarter partnership.

Wasps chairman John Stabler is well aware of their ability as they play with his son, Jon. He is also interested in bringing Stabler junior, a former Wasps player, back to York.

Crooks will leave the naming of his team until as late as possible, although he is unlikely to suffer from the player shortage which has plagued the club in recent weeks.

He is looking forward to finally getting the chance to work with some better players - and erasing the memory of last week's record 98-0 defeat at Rochdale Hornets.

He said: "I'm not saying we will win at Hunslet but at least we will have players who can play the game."

Defence was again the main problem against Rochdale, with the Wasps missing a whopping 48 tackles.

A stronger squad, coupled with Hunslet's poor form, should ensure the Wasps do not come in for such a hiding tonight.

Unchanged Hunslet have not won in more than two months and are just two places above York in the table.

Updated: 11:38 Friday, April 13, 2001