Luckless Leroy

The winger was helped from the Boundary Park pitch with blood pouring from his face after a 60th minute tackle on Oldham centre Anthony Gibbons.

The doctor's initial assessment was that the jaw was broken and McKenzie was taken straight to hospital for further examination.

In the worst case scenario, luckless McKenzie, who missed nine games after suffering a serious hand injury almost exactly a year ago, is unlikely to play any part in the last two months of the season.

This latest injury is a major blow to McKenzie and coach Garry Atkins whose biggest problems are in the back-line.

"For any player to break his jaw is not very nice," sympathised Atkins. "It is very unfortunate because Leroy has been playing well for us. He will be greatly missed."

There was a suggestion that an elbow may have been used in the tackle and the club will watch a video of the incident to determine exactly what happened.

McKenzie's injury was not the only problem faced by Atkins after the Boundary Park battering.

However, Atkins believes Oldham have set the example which York can follow. The clubs have seen a complete reversal in fortunes from last season when York just missed out on a play-off place while Oldham finished one place off the bottom.

This year has seen York slump to the lower reaches of the Northern Ford Premiership while Oldham have undergone a rebuilding programme which has seen them climb to sixth place.

"We hammered them by 70 points in the last game of last season so they have shown you can bounce back but it does take a long time," said Atkins, who revealed he is planning to return to the playing ranks before the end of the season.

The Wasps were made to pay for a disastrous first 20 minutes which saw them concede three tries to go 12-0 down.

That increased to 24-4 by half-time before a rejuvinated York pulled back to within 12 points of Oldham in the second half.

Explaining the sudden turn around, Atkins said: "Some of the players are not playing.

"They're not giving 100 per cent and want the end of the season to be here, so at half-time we asked some questions and spoke some home truths, and I feel in the second half we came out and competed which is all I ask for."

Unfortunately the Wasps had already given themselves too big a mountain climb, and Atkins was far from happy with the defensive errors that had caused it.

"They caught us out a couple of times and blitzed us in the first half which is when I feel it was won and lost.

"It shows our defence still isn't up to standard. We're working really hard on it but it won't happen overnight."

Although Oldham's first three tries were all scored down's York left flank, Atkins refused to lay the blame on any individuals.

However he admitted he had no option but to remove Kevin Gray from the firing line after the third try.

"I didn't want to alter things. After one try you think maybe you should change it around but I don't like to take someone off because of one try. But after the third I felt we had to do something.

"No disrespect to the players that were there but the defensive structure was non-existent. Putting Andy Preston there (left centre) bolstered it up and I thought he was one of our best defenders."

Preston also had to be taken off with a nasty cheek wound but he is hopeful it will not prove serious.

Better news for Atkins is that centre Andrew Lambert should return against Whitehaven on Sunday after being rested for concussion while prop Rich Hayes and long-term absentee Mick Ramsden are close to a comeback.

Heworth's finale

HEWORTH will be hoping to go out in style tonight when they entertain Ideal Isberg in their final National Conference League division one match of the season.

Though Heworth have nothing to play for, there is plenty at stake for their Hull-based visitors. Isberg have their sights on a cup and promotion double, having already reached the final of the BNFL National Cup against Skirlaugh on May 13 and with elevation to the top flight still a realistic possibility.

New Earswick visit West Bowling in their penultimate division two fixture which could confirm Bowling's promotion to division one. Both games kick-off at 7.30pm.