YORK Wasps enjoyed the perfect start to their first-ever trip to Hurst Cross but could not maintain a flawless display as they eventually lost 32-16 to hosts Oldham.

Carl Hall created a little piece of rugby league history when he gave York the lead with just two minutes on the clock, his try being the first-ever in senior rugby at Oldham's new ground.

But the Roughyeds - playing for the first time at their new 'home from home' at Ashton United FC - hit back quickly and after going 12-10 ahead close to half-time never relinquished their lead.

However, this was another game from which the improving Wasps can take plenty of positives, despite the fact Leo Epifania's men remain bottom of the Northern Ford Premiership.

The Roughyeds - beaten play-off finalists last year - were probably the best all-round team York have played so far this season, but the Wasps were always in with a shout until midway through the second half.

In addition, they scored three tries - including a first for the club for winger Gavin Molloy - and with a bit of luck could have had more. And, although they again paid heavily for mistakes, a good deal of Oldham's six tries were down to excellent rugby rather than slack defending.

Hall's opening score followed an excellent 40/20 kick from Mark Cain, the centre making the most of the positional advantage by barging through three would-be tacklers to go over in the left corner.

Referee Steve Nicholson talked to his touch judge for what seemed like an eternity before eventually awarding the try.

The visitors could not have wished for a better start even though Jamie Benn - back in a Wasps shirt for the first time since January 7 last year - failed to convert from wide out.

However, Cain's next 40/20 attempt went out on the full and this time it was the hosts who took advantage.

On the sixth tackle, stand-off John Braddish launched a bomb towards Wasps' right defence, Molloy and Shaun Austerfield failed to deal with it, and Joe McNicholas pounced on the loose ball to equalise.

On ten minutes, Jonny Liddell booted another superb 40/20 for Wasps but referee Nicholson controversially awarded head and feed to Oldham, robbing York of another golden chance.

The visitors' defence was soon stretched both right and left but held out superbly and on 20 minutes a great tackle 30 yards out by full-back Ben Sorbello denied rampaging second-row Bryan Henare a certain score.

However, five minutes later Oldham did score.

Number one Mark Sibson broke four tackles before Cain brought him down only to be penalised for laying on, and during the next set in the York 20, the ball was moved brilliantly by the hosts, with McNicholas rounding it off down the left, albeit with a bit of luck when bouncing off a big hit to see the line in front of him.

York were nearly level four minutes later when Cain's ambitious grubber kick ran dead just before a diving Hall could get a touch, but after their next attack the visitors got their just deserts.

Sorbello, Hall and Benn made great yards down the left and, when Cain kicked to the right corner, Oldham winger McNicholas let slip what should have been an easy gather and Molloy followed up keenly to dive on the loose ball.

Benn converted to give York a 10-8 lead and hopes of a shock win began to grow.

However, rather than consolidate up to half-time, the visitors merely repaid Oldham for their kindness by immediately handing the hosts a chance at the other end, replacement prop Andy Hutchinson guilty of dropping the ball in his own 30 yard area.

Henare barged over down the right to make it 12-10 and Braddish goaled his most difficult conversion attempt of the day from the touchline.

York still battled back and so nearly retook the lead when a number of breaks, notably by substitute forward Ian Kirke and stand-off Liddell, saw an overlap develop down the right.

Sorbello darted for the line but was tackled as he crossed and somehow the ball squirmed loose to deny the Aussie a deserved touchdown.

The second half was as lively as the first, and began when Molloy gathered a Cain kick but was deemed offside with the line in sight.

On 46 minutes, referee Nicholson - was he influenced by the vociferous home crowd during the match? - penalised Peter Edwards for apparently transgressing in the tackle and Braddish goaled from 30 yards in front of the sticks.

Five minutes later Phil Farrell broke two tackles to increase Oldham's lead, with Braddish converting, and, although York fought back by forcing a drop-out, the Roughyeds went further ahead when John Hough crashed over from acting half after Lee Doran had been held up on the line following some superb rugby. Braddish's goal made it 28-10.

Hall enjoyed a bit of banter with the Oldham crowd after referee Nicholson called him over for a lecture, only to be reminded by the touch judge that it was Hall's opposite number who had actually transgressed.

And, more importantly, in York's next set of six following the penalty, Cain's high boot was pounced on by prop Andy Precious, who reduced the deficit when touching down, Benn converting from the right.

York pressed again, Leigh Deakin making a fine break, but at the other end Liddell superbly cleared when in danger only for Oldham to come straight back and score through Neil Roden.

A great tap tackle by Hall denied Jon Goddard a try, while in the last minute some superb keep-ball by York ended with Sorbello receiving what would have been a scoring pass only for it to be deemed forward.

It brought to an end another defeat for York but it was another step in the right direction. It was the best away display for some time and, although tough games lie ahead, that first victory cannot be too far away.

Fact file:

Oldham

T: McNicholas (7, 25), Henare (35), Farrell (51), Hough (58), Roden (74).

C: Braddish 3. P: Braddish (46).

Oldham Roughyeds: Sibson, Dodd, Gibbons, Goddard, McNicholas, Braddish, Roden, Knox, Hough, Clegg, Farrell, Henare, Hodgkinson.

Subs used: Barber, Guest, Doran, Casey.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

York Wasps

T: Hall (2), Molloy (31), Precious (65).

C: Benn 2.

York Wasps: Sorbello 8, Benn 7, Austerfield 6, Hall 7, Molloy 6, Liddell 7, Cain 7, Precious 7, Edwards 8, Docherty 6, Deakin 7, Ramsden 7, R Lee 6.

Subs used: Hutchinson 6, Kirke 7, Barrow -, A Lee 7.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Ref: Steve Nicholson. Att: 1,130