Wobby the Wasp is suffering away-day blues after having his wings clipped by Hull Kingston Rovers.

The new York Wasps mascot, sponsored by the Evening Press, had been planning to buzz off to Craven Park on Sunday for his first ever 'on the road' adventure.

But the stunned wasp has had the sting taken out of his tail by officials of the Hull club. Under Rovers policy, travelling mascots are not permitted for fear they will incite the crowd.

So poor Wobby will be left behind to preen his wings for the Challenge Cup trip to Warrington Wolves the following week.

A deflated Wobby said: "Swots it all about? I was looking forward to a nice trip to Hull - I've heard it's quite a scenic flight. I'll just have to put in some extra preparation to tame the wolf instead."

Hull KR will launch their own robin mascot next month but their commercial manager John Leeman dismissed any chance of Wobby plucking his feathers in the re-match at Huntington Stadium in June.

"Our mascot will be reserved for home matches only," said Leeman, who claimed Rovers have become wary following recent high profile instances of mascot rage at football matches.

Although sympathetic to Wobby's plight he explained: "Mascots are usually for the home crowd. When they are for away crowds you can't guarantee there won't be any trouble."

And though not suggesting for a moment that Wobby would be anything other than impeccably behaved, he added: "You can't always rely on the behaviour of the mascot and in a crowd of two or three thousand you can't always rely on people not throwing something at him."

York supporters certainly are welcome at Sunday's Northern Ford Premiership encounter and the Wasps will be putting on a coach from Huntington Stadium if there is enough interest.

Licencing restrictions means there is no public bar at Craven Park so York are currently negotiating with a nearby pub for post-match refreshments.

Can those wishing to travel on the coach, which will leave the Stadium at 1.30pm, please contact Ann Garvey on 01904 634636 by Friday at the latest. The cost is £5 per person.

She would also like to hear as soon as possible from anybody wishing to travel by coach to the Challenge Cup fifth round tie at Wilderspool the following week. The cost will be £7 per person.

Warrington are retaining Super League admission prices for the game which are as follows: Seats £15 (concessions £7), standing £10 (concessions £5).

Admission is payable on the gate.

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