Wasps hit by 'flu

York Wasps have been hit by yet another playing crisis prior to their clash with Sheffield Eagles tomorrow.

A 'flu bug has ripped through the Wasps ranks, with four players laid low by the virus.

Paul Butterfield, Chris Allen, Alan Pallister and Craig Moore did not train on Thursday, with coach Lee Crooks ordering them to stay away in case they passed on the bug.

However, Crooks - whose squad has been depleted by injuries all season - is expecting the quartet to feature in tomorrow's game at Huntington Stadium, knowing that without them the number of available players could be down to the bare minimum.

Matt Mulholland (hamstring) and triallist Charles Hoggard (head wound) are ruled out after picking up injuries in last week's defeat by Dewsbury, while Spencer Hargrave is still out with a broken thumb.

Pallister has shaken off a dead leg sustained against Dewsbury, but there are more doubts over Mick Ramsden (hamstring), who missed the Rams match, and Craig Forsyth (knee).

Furthermore, as reported in the Evening Press, Jamie Benn, Michael Smith and Andy Hill have all left the club following the changes to the players' payment structure agreed this week, and Darren Hughes has retired following a string of injuries.

"These thing are sent to test us," said a rueful Crooks, who was not going to select his starting line-up until just before kick-off

"The four with 'flu will have to go out as we won't have a team otherwise. They should be okay to play after a couple of days' rest, but we'll have to leave it as late as possible and see who's available before deciding the line-up."

The dilemma comes at the end of a trying week in which the club's future was assured following the acceptance by creditors to wipe away massive club debt as part of a creditors' voluntary agreement.

As part of that agreement, the majority of players - barring Benn, Hill and Smith - accepted new contracts whereby they will share 50 per cent of gate receipts by way of payment. And Crooks was quick to praise their commitment to the club's cause.

"I'm just pleased we'll be able to get a team out," he said.

"These players have sacrificed a lot and need to be commended. Everybody at the Wasps is grateful they've stuck by the club."

"Our preparations have not been ideal. We've only trained once this week, we'll have players playing out of position and players coming back from injury. But they are capable of winning the game."

With Benn no longer at the club, goalkicking duties will probably be taken on by half-back Gareth Oulton, though triallist Danny Waite can also do the job.

"I'm looking for the players to do the basics right," said Crooks. "If we tackle well and not make one-on-one misses, and add that to the commitment we've shown, then there's no reason why we can't grind out a result."

Visitors Sheffield have won two of their five Northern Ford Premiership games, losing their latest 52-16 at home to Keighley Cougars on Sunday. Player-coach Mark Aston - one of the club's greats - has promised changes following that hammering, with centre Gavin Hewitt a possible starter and winger Ian Thompson fit again after 'flu. Ian Brown could step down to the bench while Aston himself could also start as a substitute.

Sheffield have a smattering of former Wasps players in their ranks, namely Mick Johnson, Chris Judge and Richard Goddard, but only the latter featured last week and was expected to play tomorrow.

However, Clifton-based former Heworth half-back Scott Rhodes, as reported in the Evening Press last week, is set to play against his home town club.

"Sheffield began their last match enthusiastically but Keighley exploited their weaknesses and we will look to do the same," added Crooks.

York Wasps v Sheffield Eagles at Huntington Stadium (tomorrow 3pm ko).

York Wasps: from Allen, Oulton, Butterfield, Lloyd, McKenzie, Handley, Stephens, Hagan, Dobson, Pallister, Forsyth, Pincher, Moore, Ramsden, Austerfield, Crake, Waite, Briggs.

Sheffield Eagles: from Poynter, Wells, Kite, Walker, Brown, Briggs, Robinson, Bruce, Speak, Wright, Flynn, Cruckshank, Goddard, Brent, Rhodes, Summerill, Hewitt, Aston, Thompson.