Lee Crooks has turned to his former Keighley Cougars colleague Frank Punchard to join him as assistant coach at York Wasps.

Punchard was Crooks' assistant at Cougar Park and took over as head coach following Crooks' departure early in the 1999 season.

He stayed in charge until the end of that season after which he was replaced by Karl Harrison.

Since then he has been out of the professional game but Crooks believes he will prove the right man for the job at Huntington Stadium.

"I wanted someone I could trust, who knows how I work, how I want the game to be played and has a good knowledge of the game. Frank fits that criteria," said Crooks, revealing that supporters would get their first chance to meet Punchard at the fans' forum at Huntington Stadium on Thursday night.

"The assistant's role is totally different from the head coach. You don't have to have a high-profile assistant, you need someone that's going to back you up, someone you know can get on with the job and be the link between the players and myself.

Much of Punchard's coaching background has been in junior rugby, and he has recently been helping out in that capacity at Lock Lane amateur club.

He was on the coaching staff at Keighley for several years, first with the Academy when Phil Larder was in charge. Crooks' arrival saw him take over the Alliance team and, following the departure of Crooks' assistant Grant Anderson, he moved up to be Crooks' right hand man.

Ironically it is Anderson who has once again provided Punchard with the chance to be Crooks' number two. The Wasps boss first offered the job to Anderson but he was forced to turn it down because of work commitments.

* Heworth Rugby League Club were today awaiting the outcome of last night's disciplinary hearing into their abandoned game against Leigh East a fortnight ago

The match was abandoned by Oldham referee Clive Walker after fighting broke out in their National Conference League division one clash at Heworth's Elm Park ground.

* The opening match in the Women's Rugby League World Series between Great Britain and New Zealand, due to be played at Hull FC's Boulevard ground tonight, is in doubt.

A pitch inspection was taking place today and a decision was expected this afternoon.