York Rugby League Club coach Dean Robinson today claimed his side were "robbed" of victory against Batley Bulldogs by a controversial disallowed try.

Robinson declared that referee Peter Taberner was wrong to rule out winger Fata Sini's try three minutes into injury time at Mount Pleasant yesterday.

The Wigan official - who also disallowed three Batley scores - judged that Shaun Austerfield's pass to Sini was forward, incurring the wrath of Robinson.

The Wasps trailed 8-3 going into injury time - a try leaving them a successful conversion away from two valuable Second Division points.

Said the coach: "I think we were robbed of victory. He (Austerfield) threw it wildly behind him but it was not forward. But regardless of that it is still a Batley win."

Batley's victory secured the White Rose Championship and a place in the Trans-Pennine Cup final on Sunday, July 19, where they will face Red Rose winners Oldham.

Even Sini's last minute 'try' would not have seen the Wasps go through, for Bramley crushed Doncaster Dragons 57-12 to move into second place behind Batley.

The Wasps' defeat, their third by Batley this season, could also have grave consequences for their hopes of promotion from the Second Division.

Victories for Bramley, Oldham and Lancashire pushed the Wasps down to fourth in the overall standings with seven games remaining.

However, Robinson remained upbeat about his side's chances.

"We are still in with a big shout. It has been swings and roundabouts all season. There have been four different sides on top," he said.

"It is a tough run in and it is two points lost but we have got to pick up and build on what we have achieved here. We have got seven games left and we have got Bramley next."

The coach praised the defensive qualities of both sides but felt Batley took their chances in attack.

He added: "Both sides have defended very well. It was one of those games where you don't expect anything and you are not going to give anything yourself.

"One chance has come their way and they have taken it. We have defended magnificently for 80 minutes but did not make the best of the chances that came our way.

"It was never a game where we were going to get the ball out wide because of their aggressive defence."

The Wasps appeared to hold the upper hand at half-time, trailing just 6-3 after playing up the Mount Pleasant slope.

"I think we had done what we set out to do in the first half and could have come in better than we did," said Robinson.

"We restricted them to a three point deficit but in the second half we still had to make it happen. They know this pitch well and defended well up the slope.

"It wasn't our day to have the rub of the green and right at the death I thought we were going to come away with the victory."

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