York Wasps have rediscovered the "dogged determination" which can turn them into realistic play-off contenders, according to stand off Mark Cain.

Cain, man of the match in yesterday's superb 16-6 victory over previously second placed Hunslet Hawks, believes the Wasps have thrown off their problems of the last few games and are now ready to fire up their Northern Ford Premiership bid.

"We have got something back that's been lacking in the last couple of weeks. We've got caught cold at the start in the last two weeks but we were switched on this week.

"We've shown dogged determination. We had the determination to do well and play as we should be playing.

"We're still not firing on all cylinders but we played well," enthused the 22-year-old.

It was a masterful performance from Cain who repeatedly left the Hawks defence in tatters and capped his display with what proved to be the clinching try.

Recalling the touchdown, Cain said: "I knew we had an overlap but it opened up in front of me so I went through the gap and determination got me over the line."

Cain should have had a try in the first half but dropped the ball over the line, and revealed the ball had hit his leg and bounced from his grasp as he tried to put it down.

That apart, Cain was inspirational in the middle of the field and paid tribute to the efforts of his half back partner Darren Callaghan.

"I thought he played very well. He's taking a lot of the pressure off my shoulders. He moves the forwards about and I'm moving the backs about.

"He's doing what he should be doing and it's making it easier for me," he explained.

Wasps coach Dean Robinson was once again full of praise for the efforts of his side and said: "It was a terrific team performance.

"We started on Friday playing some smart football and realising we have to start doing things more collectively to break sides down. We were unlucky on Friday but we've got the result today.

"In the last five minutes we've got a bit sloppy, we should have been kicking to touch and taking our time to scrummage and on another day it might have cost us but they've defended magnificently apart from the last 10 minutes."

Robinson was grateful to get the tough Easter programme against Hull KR and Hunslet out the way and was pleased with the way the Wasps have come through it.

"It looked quite daunting to be playing the top of the tree and the number two sides within four days of each other but we've come out of it very well.

"We've learned a lot which should serve us in good stead for the rest of the campaign.

"At last we can regroup now. Once we've played Doncaster next week we're back to weekly football and the lads can get rid of their bumps and bruises," said Robinson, who revealed he was hopeful of adding to his squad with one or two new signings this week.

Centre Shaun Austerfield was the only casualty against Hunslet after taking a knock on the shoulder but Robinson is hopeful it will not prove too serious.

HULL Kingston Rovers, who only just edged out York Wasps on Good friday, lost their unbeaten Northern Ford Premiership record yesterday when they crashed 25-14 at Dewsbury, who leapt above Hunslet into second spot.

Widnes went third - one of three clubs a point adrift of Rovers, after hammering Lancashire Lynx 40-4, while Leigh's 26-20 win at Oldham moved them into fourth spot.

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