York Wasps coach Lee Crooks is set to deliver a double boost to the club's back division.

New Zealander Lee Hutchinson and Heworth's Rich Darling were set to sign triallist forms with the club tonight after impressing in training this week.

Both can play at full-back, while Darling can also offer cover at centre and on the wing.

The signings come a week after full-back Jamie Benn left the club after failing to agree to the new pay structure, and re-strengthens the Wasps' back line prior to Sunday's Northern Ford Premiership match at home to Gateshead Thunder.

"We've yet to see how good they are but they've both trained with us this week and looked fairly sharp," Crooks told the Evening Press.

Hutchinson, 30, has played at NFP level before, for Northcote Tigers in New Zealand's Premier League, which is regarded as the equivalent standard as the NFP.

"He is a New Zealander but has got a British passport and is working in York, and rang up asking for a trial," said Crooks.

"He has played quite competitive rugby in New Zealand and could be a good acquisition."

Darling has been an amateur with Heworth for four seasons but has struggled this term to travel to games from his home in the northern fringes of North Yorkshire. He played only his first game of the campaign on Saturday as a substitute in Heworth's 32-8 National Conference defeat by Eccles.

However, the former Skirlaugh player has been turning out for Northallerton in rugby union's Yorkshire Two.

"I had a couple of people speak to me about Rich so I went to watch him play for Heworth last week," said Crooks, who admitted both new signings might take time to settle in at NFP level.

"It will take a couple of weeks to find out what standard they are capable of but the main thing is we've got some bodies on board and competition for places," he said.

The signings come as a much-needed boost to the Wasps squad, especially following the news that Spencer Hargrave has been linked with a possible move to NFP rivals Rochdale Hornets.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, Hornets' coach Martin Hall has asked the 22-year-old to go for a trial at Spotland. Although the loose forward has reiterated his desire to stick it out with the Wasps, he may be forced to go across the Pennines to get a guaranteed wage.

Former team-mates Andy Hill and Benn are also reportedly being targeted by the Hornets, but while they left the Wasps last week after failing to accept the new payment structure, Hargrave opted to stay.

However, under the terms of the new playing contracts at the club whereby players - only the 17 on duty at a match - get a share of gate receipts, he is not guaranteed a weekly wage at Wasps and the fact he has been out injured with a broken thumb since last month has hit his pocket.

He was hoping to return to training tonight, but unless a sponsor can be found he will probably move on. "I would rather stay than move but I can't survive on nothing," he said.

"My main wage comes from rugby but I'm not getting too much now. Hopefully I'll get some sponsorship."

His commitment to the club is such that he is setting up a website with Wasps' new recruit Danny Waite aimed at attracting sponsorship from businesses and cash for the recently-formed players' fund, which tops up their wages.

"I will try everything to stay. I'm going to see how it goes with that before committing myself to another club," he added.

Updated: 12:02 Thursday, January 18, 2001