Drama doesn't come much better than the 80 minutes of rugby league witnessed by those fans lucky enough to be at Huntington Stadium yesterday.

JUDGE AND JURY: York's Chris Judge slams the ball over the Sheffield line to score Wasps' first try despite the efforts of tackler John Strange, the former York player, in yesterday's thrilling encounter at Huntington Stadium

Drama doesn't come much better than the 80 minutes of rugby league witnessed by those fans lucky enough to be at Huntington Stadium yesterday.

Andy Precious's match-winner with the last touch of the game was the kind of fairytale finish more suited to comic books than the real world.

But real it most certainly was, as is reflected in the Northern Ford Premiership table which finally sees York with points under their belts.

However, two minutes from the end their record looked set to read played three, lost three. With five minutes to go John Strange appeared to have returned to haunt his ex-team-mates with a field goal which put the Eagles 15-14 ahead.

As the clock counted down the Wasps were running out of chances. But they refused to be denied and a superb ball from Precious set Alan Pallister scurrying away only to be stopped just short of the line.

That set the play up in front of the posts and Mark Cain popped up with a close range field goal to earn the Wasps a share of the points. Or so everyone thought.

There was less than two minutes to go when York retrieved the kick-off and all Sheffield had to do was keep York pinned in their own 20 metre area. But incredibly, the Wasps made 50 metres on the first five tackles and as the ball was thrown back to Andy Precious 40 metres out he looked up, took his time and booted the ball goalwards.

It wasn't the greatest kick, but it had the direction and just enough height to dip over the cross bar.

There was no time for the Eagles to reply as the hooter sounded seconds later. It was the South Yorkshiremen's first defeat since their rebirth and how heartbreaking it must have been.

At least the large, vociferous travelling contingent could go home in the knowledge they had witnessed a wonderful spectacle of rugby league.

What it lacked in quality it more than made up for in excitement as the game swung one way and then the other. They were two very evenly-matched sides and it was apparent early on that there would be little to choose between them at the end.

The visitors had the better of the first half and were 8-0 up after half an hour. The first points didn't come until 25 minutes when big substitute prop John Bruce had two much power for the York defence and burst through four tackles to crash over.

Then that man Strange got in on the act after being put through by Dave Larder. Luckily both tries were scored in the corner and Gavin Brown, who had a rare quiet afternoon, sent both conversion attempts wide.

Despite the score York had their share of possession and looked solid in defence. Debutant Carl Paterson never put a foot wrong on the wing despite being given a severe test by the Sheffield kicking game.

Craig Booth and Gareth Dobson returned to York on Friday and both played a big part in the victory. Hooker Dobson took the ball from acting half and set up the try for Chris Judge which put them right back in it just before the break.

Judge was held just short by Strange but stretched out his arm to slam the ball down over the line.

Paterson added the conversion and a penalty early in the second half to tie the scores at 8-8. That was when the real drama began as Larder and then Jackson had tries disallowed - Larder was adjudged to have been held on his back and Jackson knocked-on.

Cain failed with a drop goal attempt but a minute later York took the lead for the first time. Booth laid off a fine ball to sub Shaun Austerfield and he displayed some new-found pace to streak untouched through the middle of the defence and score under the posts to leave Paterson an easy kick.

Sheffield seemed to have nothing left but Strange was revelling against his former colleagues and provided the inspiration to pull them back into it. He broke through from halfway and it was left to Leon Williamson to provide the final touch.

This time Brown had a much easier attempt and his conversion tied the scores, setting up the last eight minutes for that thrilling finale.

Those fans who stayed away after the Doncaster debacle will be rueing missing out on this one.

YORK WASPS: Andy Preston 7, Carl Paterson 8, Gary Atkins 7 (Shaun Austerfield 53, 7), Andrew Lambert 7, Matt Woodcock 7, Mark Cain 7, Darren Callaghan 7, Rich Hayes 8, Gareth Dobson 7, Steve Hill 7 (Mick Hagan 17mins, 7), Chris Judge 7, Andy Precious 8 (Craig Booth 27, 7), Spencer Hargrave 7 (Alan Pallister 68). Re-subs: Hill for Hayes 55, Precious for Hagan 61.

Tries: Judge 37mins, Austerfield 66.

Goals: Paterson 3. Field goals: Cain (78mins), Precious (80)

Sin-bins: Lambert (23mins, fighting)

Sheffield: Mick Johnson, Simon Wray, Steve Walker, Kevin Crowther, Leon Williamson, John Strange, Gavin Brown, Ricky Wright (John Bruce 18mins), Chris Robinson, Glen Freeman (Ian Brown 51), Michael Jackson (Darren Summerill 70), Wayne Freeman (Dave Larder 30), Chris Morley. Re-subs: Wright for Bruce 65mins, W Freeman for I Brown 76.

Tries: Bruce (25mins), Strange (30), Williamson (72)

Goals: Brown. Field-goals: Strange 75mins

Sin-bins: Walker (23mins, fighting)

Man of the match: *Andy Precious: Nobody stood out in a fine team effort but Precious was the match-winner with his coolness under pressure

Penalties: York 6, Sheffield 2

Scrums won: York 9, Sheffield 7

40/20 kicks: York 1, Doncaster 0

Half-time: York 6, Sheffield 8

Referee: Alan Bates (Workington)

Attendance: 971

Match rating: 9/10

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.