Rochdale Hornets 18, York Wasps 10

What a difference a week makes, so the saying goes. In the case of York Wasps, it didn't even take that long.

Just four days ago they left Spotland, scene of their memorable extra-time Challenge Cup win over Rochdale in February, after producing their best performance of the season to trounce Oldham.

Last night it went from one extreme to the other as they returned to their 'second home' and turned in their worst display of the campaign to get exactly what they deserved.

A catalogue of errors by both sides, as well as referee Paul Lee, contributed to a dreadful game which at times deteriorated into farce. Seven tries were disallowed; others went begging as a result of dropped balls; knock-ons and forward passes abounded; and high tackles and other questionable incidents were missed by the dozen.

Both sides were guilty, but it was Rochdale who held the upper hand, especially in defence. For once the York pack failed to dominate while half-backs Mark Cain and Darren Callaghan were non-existent. That left the three-quarters with little chance to shine and, when they did, Rochdale had the defence to quickly extinguish the threat.

Ironically it was a former Wasp and an almost Wasp that did the damage. Ex-York favourite Peter Fitzgerald called the shots at stand-off as well as chipping in with a try and three goals while Brad Hepi, a recent York target, tormented the defence at loose forward.

The writing was on the wall when 'Fitz' scored a soft try less than two minutes into the game, taking the ball from acting half to squeeze in at the corner after Rochdale had utilised the 40-20 rule. Often this season the Wasps' slow starts have been attributed to mental attitude and it was plain to see this wasn't the same team which had performed so brilliantly on Sunday.

Fitzgerald's failed conversion attempt was followed by two missed penalties awarded for high tackles, first by Jamie Benn and then by 'Fitz'. That second incident led to Rochdale second rower Mick Coult being put on report for his challenge on Rich Goddard as the game became increasingly bad-tempered.

Benn did manage to reduce the deficit with a penalty on 13 minutes, this time for offside, then four minutes later Rochdale were penalised for crossing and Hepi's word with the referee moved York on a further 10 metres and into a kicking position which Benn gratefully accepted.

Towards the end of the half York finally began to play some rugby and Goddard made a good run but was tackled into touch. At the same time, wingers Andy Eyres and Leigh Deakin got into a punch-up and were both sin-binned.

Another chance went begging when York created an overlap down the left side but Benn dropped the ball in acres of space. Then a mistake in their own 20 metre area handed Rochdale the lead. Alan Pallister lost the ball in the tackle and as it was moved swiftly along the Rochdale line, Fitzgerald sent Sean Cooper in for the simplest of tries and an easy conversion.

The first disallowed try came on 32 minutes when Hepi's pass to Fitzgerald was ruled forward, but Rochdale did score soon after when substitute Steve Cameron, with his first touch of the ball, kicked through on the last tackle and just got his fingertips to the ball before it went dead.

Hooker David Stephenson had another try disallowed just after the break then Craig Booth did the same for the Wasps when he was adjudged to have knocked on over the line. The York prop was sin-binned minutes later for dissent, giving Fitzgerald a simple penalty before Richard Goddard crossed the line but was tackled on his back.

Two more disallowed tries followed for Fitzgerald and Deakin, the latter for a forward pass, then York finally breached the Rochdale line legally. Goddard looked for a gap, eventually got the ball back inside to Matt Lambert and with two players laid out on the ground, the second row when through the space they had left to score near the posts, Precious' conversion leaving the Wasps just six points behind.

The brilliant travelling supporters, who had out-shouted the home fans all night, sensed a great escape but their hopes faded when Precious, who had taken over the goalkicking from the injured Benn, missed a long distance penalty attempt with 12 minutes to go. It was all over when Booth was penalised for interfering at the play the ball, Fitzgerald kicking the goal to put the game out of reach.

Then came the most memorable moment of the night - the final hooter. Not a game for the connoisseur, and definitely not one to go in the archives of the Wasps who will be relieved to finally see the back of Spotland for another season.

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