by Stuart MartelGREAT Britain international Iestyn Harris conjured a 79th minute try to deny York Rugby League Club a share of the spoils from their run in with the Super League Rhinos.

Leeds coach Graham Murray was forced to throw on star substitutes Adrian Morley and £350,000 Harris to prevent the Wasps pulling off an almighty shock at Huntington Stadium last night.

The home side's incredible performance seemed certain to down the Super Leaguers until six minutes from the final hooter, when Graham Holroyd converted Marcus St Hilaire's hat-trick try to level the scores.

Morley and Harris may have begun the game on the bench but Leeds fielded a starting line-up boasting more than a century of Super League starts in 1997.

While York could not match that experience, they bettered their much-vaunted visitors with a blend of determination, drive and spirit.

Lee Hanlan was an inspiration at stand-off, a whirl of creativity in the nerve centre of the York side as he outshone opposite number Holroyd.

His combination with scrum-half David Brook always threatened to prise Leeds open, chiefly by releasing the pace of wingers Leigh Deakin and Geoff Woodward.

Masterful performances in key positions were also given by captain Alan Pallister, at his ball-stealing, try-scoring best, and watertight full-back John Strange.

Second rower Matt Lambert created the opening try, responding to Justin Eldershaw's vocal prompting of "yes, yes, yes" with a perfect reverse pass.

Eldershaw's debut score was cancelled out by Francis Cummins after a ball-stealing penalty gave Leeds good possession.

But the Wasps retained the upper hand through Hanlan's astute distribution and they regained the lead courtesy of Woodward's pace.

The winger intercepted near his own line and carried the ball into the Leeds half, where a quick play the ball enabled York to work an overlap on the left for Deakin to score. Brook converted for 10-4.

Leeds completed only seven of 22 first half possessions, while Brook's efficient touch kicking game kept them under pressure.

York failed to back-up Paul Darley's darting run in the 34th minute but Pallister was on hand to plough over from acting half for a third Wasps try, converted by Andy Precious.

Precious was sin-binned for holding down and within seconds St Hilaire went over for the first of his treble, Holroyd converting.

The 16-10 half-time scoreline was beyond York's wildest dreams but they increased their ecstasy with a Hanlan penalty, before Daryl Powell and Strange exchanged converted tries.

A killer instinct was evident in Lambert's 52nd minute score, the forward pouncing on a Leeds handling error near the line for a commanding 12 point lead.

Going into the last quarter York's defence was unyielding, holding Adam Hughes on his back and keeping out St Hilaire.

But the full-back scored his second try, wriggling away from his markers after a York knock-on.

Morley entering the fray in the 72nd minute was a prelude to St Hilaire's equalising try, scored with the Wasps struggling to escape the confines of their own half.

But Harris made the most dramatic of entrances, weaving through weary Wasps with 80 seconds left.

Injury-time punches, followed by the sending off of instigator Craig Booth and retaliator Barrie McDermott, the Leeds captain, took the gloss off the main event.

But nothing could dull a sparkling show from Dean Robinson's side, who appear to be rising to the challenge of hoisting the club into the first division.

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