If ever a clich was needed to sum up a rugby match then this was it.

York Wasps' Mark Cain is throttled in a tackle by Featherstone's Andy Heptinstall. Pictures: Mike Tipping

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory was the only was to describe this desperately disappointing York Wasps performance which sees them drop out the play-off zone for the first time in six weeks.

There was never more than eight points in it but the Wasps at no stage looked in danger of coming away with anything other than a win - until the last 10 minutes.

Leading 18-12 with eight minutes to go, and Featherstone posing no real threat, it all went badly wrong. Buoyed by the introduction of Richard Chapman Rovers hit back, first with a converted try by Danny Evans to level the scores and then a penalty and late drop goal from Jamie Rooney to clinch the points.

Adding to the disappointment was that all three Rovers tries were from kicks which York failed to cover. And they weren't the only mistakes in an error-ridden 80 minutes. The handling by both sides was dreadful, York's concentration was lacking at crucial moments and needless penalties cost vital ground and points.

The Wasps were not helped by Oldham referee Ian Smith whose decisions at times were questionable to say the least.

A couple of the Rovers tries looked dubious, as did the sin-binning of Craig Booth.Featherstone prop Asa Amone was deservedly yellow carded for a punch to the head of Booth who looked bemused when he was also given 10 minutes in the bin, with the penalty going to Rovers.

A head high tackle by Andy Heptinstall on Mark Cain went unpunished, Smith giving York the penalty but signalling the tackle had caught the shoulders before the head.

But there was still no excuse for the sub-standard performance against a coachless side which had lost their last four games.

Jamie Benn was one of the chief culprits as he had an uncharacteristic nightmare, the pattern of his game being marked from the outset when he knocked on from the kick-off.

The early stages had looked promising though, and Mark Cain and Alan Pallister were unlucky to have tries ruled out for forward passes.Paul Darley instigated the opening try after 18 minutes, sending Booth into a gap, and the strong-running prop barged through the tackles of Neil Lowe and Hitro Okesene at speed to get the first points on the board and leave Benn a simple conversion.

The visitors had just a Rooney penalty to show for their efforts when Leigh Deakin extended York's lead with the first of his two tries. Callaghan made a half break and threw out a superb one-handed pass from the tackle to give Deakin a clear run to the line.

But instead of closing ranks, the Wasps made a crucial mistake right on the stroke of half-time. Neil Lowe's lofted kick into the corner looked to be covered by Fata Sini but the otherwise impeccable wingman lost possession and Richard Newlove, brother of GB star Paul, and Matt Bramald both pounced on the loose ball with Newlove getting the final touch.

By that stage the Wasps should have had the game sewn up but instead went in at the break just four points ahead which kept Rovers' hopes alive.

And they soon sensed victory when they took the lead for first time after Andy Precious had added a drop goal for the Wasps. Asa Amone chipped the ball under the York posts and with the defence half asleep, Heptinstall had all the time in the world to and collect and touch down.

The conversion put Rovers in front but it was short-lived as a 10-minute spell, starting with a Benn penalty and a Callaghan drop goal, stamped York's authority on the game once again.

A 40-20 kick by Benn, who improved slightly after the break, gave York the scrum just 10 metres from the Rovers line. The ball was moved swiftly out to the left side and quick hands by Richard Goddard and John Strange, looking to impress against his former club, created the overlap for Deakin to race over unchallenged in the corner.

Yet again though, York failed to wrap the game up. With Rovers looking clueless in attack, Rooney opted for a hopeful chip which should have been dealt with easily but Evans got to the ball first and dived over near the posts.

Rooney's conversion off one the upright levelled the scores then when Benn was penalised in front of his own posts for interfering at the play the ball, scrum half Rooney accepted the two points before finishing off with a drop four minutes from time.

The game by then had slipped away from York who can only hope they will not be left to rue the one that got away when the play-off places are settled at the end of the season.

Coach ready to make changes

by Dianne HillabyDean Robinson has vowed to bring in new blood next week after watching the Wasps' unbeaten home record come to an agonising end against Featherstone.

The Wasps coach admitted the lack of competition for places, particularly in the forwards, is leaving him with limited options to change the team around.

And after yesterday's below-par display he is looking to make changes for next week's trip to Barrow. "I'm going to bring in someone on loan during the week. I've got to do it," said Robinson, who last week added wing or centre Diccon Edwards to the squad.A back row forward is likely to be his target with nobody is reserve to put pressure on Chris Judge, Matt Lambert, Paul Darley and Peter Edwards who currently have a monopoly on the shirts.

Other players in the side also need to take a look at their game, said Robinson, but declined to name those in question. He said: "We'll be making one or two changes because there were two or three below par performances. Certain individuals were out of sorts from the first minute.

"We didn't complete any of our first four sets of six and we made basic error after basic error, allowing them to gain possession from kick offs and not finding kicks for touch.

"We've bombed try after try, we had the game there for the taking completely and we've let them back into it. They never looked like scoring from the hands, it's three kicks that we've failed to defend."

Leading by sic points with less than 10 minutes to go, the result was in York's hands until they threw it away in the closing stages.

And it was that which frustrated Robinson most. He said: "I don't think there's one side in this division that can come here and take two points from us. Unfortunately today we've given them the advantage that they couldn't take for themselves. We've played poorly. The week off hasn't done us any good whatsoever. We were not up to match intensity.

"We didn't want to be defeated at home all season. At least now we're not carrying that cross which is perhaps the only good thing to come out of it."

The Wasps coach was also critical of referee Ian Smith though he refused to use that as an excuse. "A lot of 50-50 decisions didn't go our way. To put a gloss on it, the referee had a very bad game, there's no doubt about that."

Leigh Deakin was pleased with his two tries after undergoing a lean spell but would rather have had victory. He said: "I've been a bit down on confidence and it's nice to get back in the side again. But tries don't mean a lot when you get beat. It's a major disappointment for everyone involved.

"After the first half I thought we were going to do it but then we dropped off. We started dropping off tackles and didn't stick to the game plan. They proved they wanted it more than us."

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