York Wasps Academy rugby league team fought back from 18-0 down after 20 minutes to lose only 30-24 to Barrow Border Raiders - and had to match gone on for a couple more minutes York might have snatched victory.

Lapses in concentration allowed Barrow to storm into an 18-0 lead. York battled back and were rewarded when Chris Spain took a high cross-field kick to score in the corner after 39 minutes.

From the restart and in the last set of the half, Tom Lyons crashed over for a second try to leave the Wasps 18-8 behind at the break.

Early in the second half York got to within four points when substitute Ben Peacham crossed for Andy Gargan to convert.

Lack of concentration then struck again as the Barrow kick-off was allowed to bounce into touch and from the scrum, the Raiders scored a converted try.

The hosts seemed to have broken York's resistance when a further try on 65 minutes gave them a 14-point lead.

But Wasps kept fighting and a Chris Keld try, converted by Andy Gargan, on 75 minutes set up a fantastic finish.

Spain added to the tension in the final minute with his second try of the game to put the Wasps in sight of a draw.

The final set of the game saw York on the attack and a searching down-field kick on the last play of the game almost paid off, but the home full-back managed to gather the ball despite the York chase.

The Academy are next in action on Sunday at Workington, kick off 1pm.

York Wasps Academy: Kyle Wood, Mat Irving, Chris Spain, Sean Flynn, George Boothroyd, Paul Flynn, Ritchie Hunter, Tom Lyons, Robbie Dolan, Nick Burgess, Danny Brown, Chris Keld, Andy Gargan. Subs (all used): John Dick, Richard Scott, Ben Peacham, Mike Wilden. Man of Match: Danny Brown.

Updated: 12:29 Wednesday, June 13, 2001