YORK Wasps are hoping future games at Huntington Stadium will contain more of the joy of last week but less of the disappointment.

The Wasps go on tomorrow's long haul to Workington Town on the back of their first win of the season, and the joy - plus relief - of that victory was plain to see among the players, fans and officials of the club.

What a great disappointment it was, therefore, that only 280 turned up to witness it and thus savour the moment.

It was coincidental too, in that the Wasps ended one unwanted record (28 consecutive league losses) on the same day they set another (the lowest-ever crowd at Huntington Stadium and perhaps in York RL history).

Chief executive Ann Garvey, who only days earlier had explained how the club needed average gates of 1,000 to break even, said: "We expected a low crowd but not that low.

"The weather probably put some fans off, particularly if you're unsure whether your team was going to win, and it was also Mother's Day, which probably meant others did not come down.

"It was sad that many supporters did not see the team play so well. We're extremely pleased with the way the lads played despite the fact we had one or two players out, but sad the supporters who stayed away missed it.

"I'm sure the fans who were here were pleased with the game and the result.

"Obviously, as a board we're disappointed because financially it was not a good day for us but we were delighted for Leo (Epifania), the team and the supporters to get that win."

ONE fan who was certainly happy on Sunday afternoon was Louise Ince, chairman of the Wasps supporters' club. "It was fab, what a game," she grinned.

But was it worth the 12-and-a-half-month wait for a league victory? "Yes, definitely. It's been a long time coming but we can enjoy it now."

Despite the poor attendance, Louise also reported excellent sales of supporters' club half-time draw tickets, which raise funds for the club.

"Considering the crowd, we've sold lots of 'Wasps winners'," she said. "We've sold to about two-thirds of the people here. It was fab - what a day!"

Meanwhile, the supporters club can also boast several new committee members.

In addition to the old guard of Louise, Michael Chatten (secretary) and Ken Pearson (treasurer), the committee now also comprises Dave Crosby (vice-chairman), Mike Miller (vice-treasurer), Paul Cutler (vice-secretary), Alan Moffatt, Pete Hoggard, Dennis Hurst and Mark Hurst.

WHAT a happy coincidence it was that York ended their club record losing run against Chorley Lynx.

If you remember, Chorley ended their own record losing sequence of 34 games at home to York last season. And they did so in style, with a 78-8 thrashing of a beleaguered, under-strength Wasps outfit.

It was a good way to pay back the Lynx, therefore, by halting the Wasps' worst losing sequence in the league against the men from deepest Lancashire.

It also means Chorley's win-less run, remains the longest in Northern Ford Premiership history. However, it does not come close to Runcorn Highfield's record losing sequence of 67 consecutive matches in the old division two.

NOT only did they end that losing run, the Wasps also recorded other memorable feats against Chorley.

They climbed off the foot of the NFP table for the first time since May last year and, in scoring 34 points, they broke the 20-point barrier for the first time in the NFP this season and crossed the 100-point barrier for the term.

They also registered their highest league total and scored the most tries in a league match (seven) since 1999.

That previous highest score was a 70-8 thrashing of Oldham on August 29, 1999, the day when Jamie Benn set a new club record of goals and points in a single match, with 13 and 30, respectively.

Wasps remain without an away win in the league since May 2000 - so hopefully that sequence will end at Workington tomorrow. However, it's worse for Chorley, who are still seeking their first away win of the 21st Century (in either league or cup), their previous such success coming against Oldham in August 1999.

York connections in big Cup semi

FORMER York Wasps goalkicking ace Simon Irving is said to be dejected at missing Doncaster Dragons' prized Challenge Cup clash at Castleford tomorrow because of his broken arm.

The Dragons skipper suffered the break against Swinton a fortnight ago and will be out of action for about three months.

The match at the Jungle tomorrow will still see two York old boys go head to head as coaches of the respective combatants, Graham Steadman at the Tigers and St John Ellis - a former Cas star who holds their record for the most tries scored in a season (40) - at Donny.

Meanwhile, Irving, who signed for Harrogate RU in summer 2000 but almost immediately quit to play for the Dragons, has kept his finger in the union pie as coach of Old Brodleians RU, who coincidentally were entertaining Pocklington today in Yorkshire One.

Sticking with the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup, Doncaster - along with Leigh at Wigan - are bidding to join York in a small band of five clubs from outside the top division to reach the semi-finals.

Widnes achieved the feat in the inaugural Super League season of 1996 when they lost 24-14 to St Helens in the last four. Before Super League, Oldham did it 1964 and 1990 and Halifax did it in 1980. None reached the final.

York, of course, got to the last four in 1984, losing a memorable match 14-8 to Wigan at Elland Road.

Back on the Mark

AS if stung by the fact he'd lost his place at the head of the Wasps player-of-the-year leaderboard the previous week, Mark Cain stormed back to the top with a scintillating show against Chorley.

Cain will need to be on form against Workington tomorrow but if he teases and torments as he did last week, who's to say the Wasps won't shock Town?

He picked up three points for his man of the match show to leapfrog Jon Liddell and Peter Edwards and reclaim top spot.

Carl Hall kept in touch with two points for another blockbusting display, while the third point went to Ian Kirke, who grabbed his chance in the second row with both hands.

In only his second start of the season, the tall forward made a number of telling breaks.

Several players can count themselves unfortunate to miss out on player-of-the-year points, none more so than two-try hero Leigh Deakin.

The Guildford Construction/ Evening Press player of the year rankings see the Wasps' man of the match in each game receives three points, the second best player two points and the third best one point. Whoever tops the table at the end of the season will receive £350 courtesy of sponsors Guildford Construction, with the runner-up winning £150.

Player of the year standings: Mark Cain 13pts, Jon Liddell 12, Peter Edwards 11, Carl Hall 9, Mick Docherty 6, Steve Hill 4, Jamie Benn 4, Michael Forbes 3, Ben Sorbello 3, Scott Yeaman 3, Andy Precious 1, Shaun Austerfield 1, Leigh Deakin 1, Ian Kirke 1.

Updated: 11:54 Saturday, March 16, 2002