CHRIS Judge hailed the return of team spirit to the York Wasps ranks after a seven-match losing run was brought to a dramatic end yesterday.

The Wasps deserved to come away from Don Valley with both points, but had to be content with a share of the spoils in a 12-12 draw with Sheffield Eagles.

They were on course for victory until two minutes from time when former York player Rich Goddard snatched a point for the Eagles with a 40 metre penalty.

It was devastating for the Wasps but loose forward Judge applauded the efforts of his team-mates in a much improved performance.

"The big improvement was the team spirit. We're still making the mistakes and dropping the ball but the main thing was we weren't getting at each other," revealed Judge.

"Everyone was working together which is a good sign. We didn't perform well against Swinton but today we rallied round. It's a game we should have won but things are getting better. There's a long way to go but we are getting there, we're slowly climbing."

Judge had more reason than most to be disappointed after a mistake cost him what would have been the match-winning try midway through the second half.

He crossed the try-line, but lost the ball under pressure from the tackle of Sheffield full-back Steve Walker as he tried to ground the ball.

Taking full responsibility, Judge said: "I should have just dropped over but I was too complacent.

"The full-back knocked my arm and I dropped the ball.

"It was my fault for not going straight down - I'm not used to scoring!

"I didn't actually know I was over the line. I was looking for it and reached. I'm pretty gutted about it because it was a stupid error and I made a few others."

Coach Garry Atkins was full of sympathy for Judge, adding: "What an angle he ran to get there. It split the defence and would have been worthy of a try."

Atkins described the game as a point lost rather than one won, but could find little fault with the performance of the players in sweltering heat.

"It was 100 per cent better. This kind of weather might be great for watching rugby league but it's not great for playing so they've really stuck to their task and got a draw.

"I think we deserved to win though. We scored more tries than they did, created more and worked hard and just let ourselves down with three silly penalties which was the difference between winning and drawing," said Atkins, referring to three second half penalties conceded by York in front of their own posts.

The final one by Goddard was cruel on the Wasps who defended tenaciously to limit Sheffield to just one try - an incredible transformation from recent games.

"Defence comes down to commitment and that was 110 per cent today. It's the drive and the passion which makes the defence."

YORK Wasps' new Kiwi, Michael Smith, will arrive in York on Wednesday, after finally catching his flight to the UK.

The former Hull FC and Castleford Tigers player, who received his work permit a fortnight ago, had hoped to link with his team-mates last week, but was unable to secure a cancellation flight in time to arrive for yesterday's clash with Sheffield Eagles.

Smith, who now has eight games in which to impress, left New Zealand today on his pre-booked ticket. He is due into Heathrow on Wednesday morning.