Always learn from your mistakes, so the saying goes.

Giving chase: Chris Judge and Peter Edwards race back in defence as a Workington attack is brought to an end.

Net closes in: Mark Cain (number six) and Mike Hagan get stuck in as Workington go on the offensive again

And if the Wasps were taught anything from yesterday's disappointing defeat by Workington Town it was that new blood is needed urgently.

The limitations of the current squad were laid bare for all to see at Derwent Park, with York's 17 available players simply outclassed by a Workington side which had done its homework.

Coach Dean Robinson had few options with his team selection - he was only just able to field 17 after Richard Goddard's late withdrawal - and it was obvious the enforced changes had an adverse affect on the side.

The strength of character which had been the Wasps' saviour on a number of occasions this season had disappeared, and with that gone the team looked a shadow of that which triumphed against the odds last week.

The only time they ever looked fired up was in a mass brawl a couple of minutes from the end when they finally showed some of that fighting spirit the supporters, quite a few of whom travelled to Cumbria, have come to expect.

The back division lacked initiative with half-backs Mark Cain and Mick Crane failing to gel, and the forwards were outmuscled by Town's big pack.

Experienced second row Paul Forber was in unstoppable form, finding gaps in the defence almost at will, and the Wasps had no answer to the creative skills of scrum half Graeme Close and the pacey three-quarters.

It was, to quote a clich, a recipe for disaster, and a stark reminder of the tough months that lie ahead.

The writing was on the wall after just 50 seconds when Workington scored a well-worked try from the first set of six.

That man Forber was the creator, breaking from the halfway line before finding hooker Jenkins who sent winger Matthew Woodcock cruising in down the left side for a try which Close brilliantly converted.

That should have been an instant wake up call for the Wasps and they were back in it seven minutes later on one of the rare occasions they managed to throw the ball about without dropping it.

Alan Pallister, one of few Wasps players to emerge with credit, was held inches short of the line after going from acting half but managed to squeeze the ball out to Paul Darley. He found Shaun Austerfield who sent his wingman Fata Sini over at the corner.

Though Jamie Benn missed the conversion the Wasps fans expected the try to be the catalyst to put them in charge.

That looked ever more likely when Town loose forward Simon Knox was sinbinned for interference at a penalty.

But still York never got out of first gear and instead of capitalising on the extra man advantage, it was the home side who took control.

Close provided the pass for fullback Steve Arnold to cross under the posts, and the scrum half's conversion extended Town's lead to eight points.

The Wasps contributed to their own downfall with poor defence, sloppy passages of play and dreadful handling.

And they had only themselves to blame for Workington's third try when Jenkins dived over from acting half despite the attentions of Mick Crane, Matt Lambert and Lea Tichener.

Peter Edwards kept York's hopes alive with a try against the run of play after 25 minutes. The move was started when Darley, looking back to his best with a masterful display, got a pass out of the tackle to Austerfield who sent in the supporting Edwards just to the right of the posts for Benn to convert.

That was to be the end of York's enterprising play, and the end of their Cumbrian challenge.

Close kicked a penalty just before half-time then Forber put Town further ahead in the second half when he brushed off three tackles for a barmstorming try.

Substitute Darren Callaghan was switched to scrum half late in the game and produced some sparkling play, his pass giving Benn enough space to score a consolation. Judge was then sinbinned for holding down and his absence allowed Town to rap up the scoring late on with a Colin Armstrong try.

There was still time for a punch-up involving all 26 players on the field which eventually broke into three separate fights and newly promoted senior referee David Ansell did the right thing by placing the incident on report.

Now York must re-group to face a difficult period of three games in eight days against Batley, Hull KR and Hunslet, starting next Sunday, and unless some fresh legs are brought in bolster the weakening ranks it could well signal a premature end to the Wasps' play-off hopes.

Fans are reminded that the kick-off time for next week's game against Batley has been brought forward to 12pm to avoid a clash with the televised Challenge Cup semi-final between Leeds and Bradford. That game will be shown on a giant screen in the Huntington Stadium bar after the Wasps match.

Wasps discover it's all in the mind

Stricken York Wasps will be playing mind games this week as they try to put right what went wrong in yesterday's Cumbrian catastrophe, writes Dianne Hillaby.

Coach Dean Robinson admitted the players hadn't been "mentally up for it" as their Premiership play-off hopes suffered a setback in the dismal 26-14 defeat by Workington Town.

And he also confirmed they would be looking to bring in new faces over the next few days to help ease the injury crisis which has left York with just 17 available players.

"They haven't been mentally up for it as individuals. It speaks for itself when Workington score off the first set of six that mentally we've left it in the dressing room," said Robinson.

"I don't know why. The team work at Penrith before the game was first class. When you know in the dressing room that you have players who are not up to speed it can affect you but they are professionals and have to accept that sometimes it doesn't go your way.

"A lot of it will only come out when we have a closed doors session this week. We'll have a heart to heart on Tuesday and try and put it right for Batley next Sunday."

York suffered another injury blow in training on Friday night when Richard Goddard, set to return after recovering from a twisted ankle, withdrew from the squad after pulling a hamstring.

Chris Judge took his place in the centre while Mick Ramsden, who was expected to be out for another two or three weeks with a knee problem, bravely volunteered his services to make up the 17 and was among the substitutes.

The one positive note from yesterday's defeat was that the Wasps did not pick up any further major injuries, Alan Pallister and Jamie Benn the only casualties with minor knocks.

Wasps Match Facts

Northern Ford Premiership, at Derwent Park

Workington Town 26, York Wasps 14

Workington Town

Tries: Woodcock (1min), Arnold (15), Jenkins (19), Forber (54), Armstrong (74)Goals: Close 3

Sin-bin: Knox (10)

Steve Arnold, Mark Wallace, Mark Keenan, Evan Cochrane, Matthew Woodcock, Michael Dempsey, Graeme Close, Colin Armstrong, Michael Jenkins, Andy Platt, Paul Forber, Anthony Samuels, Simon Knox. Subs: Craig Fisher (for Dempsey 56), Peter Riley (Armstrong 30), Craig Barker (Riley 62), Carl Roden (Jenkins 68). Re-subs: Armstrong (for Platt 55), Platt (Barker 70)

Scrums: 9. Penalties: 9.

York Wasps

Tries: Sini (7), Edwards (25), Benn (70)Goals: Benn 1

Sin-bin: Judge (72)

John Strange 6, Jamie Benn 6, Chris Judge 6, Shaun Austerfield 6, Fata Sini 7, Mark Cain 6, Mick Crane 6, Lea Tichener 7, Alan Pallister 7, Steve Hill 7, Paul Darley 8, Matt Lambert 6, Peter Edwards 6. Subs: Darren Callaghan (for Lambert 24) 7, Mick Ramsden (Pallister 55) 6, Mike Hagan (Tichener 20) 6, Andy Precious (Hagan 55) 6. Re-subs: Lambert (for Crane 52), Tichener (Ramsden 73)

Scrums: 9. Penalties: 9

The Evening Press Man of the Match Paul Darley: Superb display on his first full game back after injury. Showed creativity, ran strongly and tackled like a trojan. His return is a timely boost and he will surely get even better with more match fitness

H/T: 18-10Ref: David Ansell (Huddersfield)Attendance: 904Match rating: 6/10Weather: Sun, rain, sun

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