by Stuart MartelSUMMER rugby league returned to Huntington Stadium with a rain-lashed vengeance.

Stormy skies overhead and sodden turf underfoot made for a slip-sliding start to the second division season.

And it was York Rugby League Club who slipped up at the start of their sink or swim campaign, while Bramley went sliding on towards a 13-6 victory.

The appalling conditions - torrential rain meets biting wind - made for an encounter of more spills than thrills, with the Wasps crucially guilty of the greater number of errors. Hand and ball were rarely comfortable partners, but Bramley's more certain handling ensured they controlled possession at pivotal points in the game.

The York forwards ran themselves ragged in the opening 40 minutes in an effort to contain the Villagers, driven on by the knowledge that the elements were in their favour after the break.

Their work nearly came to nought as Marvin Golden hacked the ball the length of the field but referee David Atkin ruled he failed to touch down, after consultation with both touch judges.

So at half-time it was very much 'mission accomplished' for the hosts, Bramley leading just 1-0 through a drop goal from forward-thinking stand-off Dave Gibbons.

But the inevitable barrage of post-interval Wasps pressure failed to materialise, the hosts grounding a greasy ball with frustrating and monotonous regularity.

The situation demanded the astute kicking of Andy Precious and David Brook but, on the rare occasions the punt was applied, ill-discipline or crazy handling sent the Wasps back to square one.

A crossing offence committed with Lee Hanlan on a charge underlined York's troubles, Kris Smith increasing those woes by assuredly banging over the subsequent penalty.

Prop forward Ryan MacDonald's high-stepping turn of pace took him through the York defence for a try on the hour, leaving the home side with much to do in the final quarter.

The chance to rescue the game was provided by substitute Stuart Flowers. The forward off-loaded to Leigh Deakin on the left touchline and the winger stepped towards centre-field, sending the defence the wrong way to open a path to the line.

When Chris Hopcutt defied the elements by converting the try, the game appeared to hinge on that earlier Gibbons one-pointer.

But on-loan Leeds Rhinos scrum-half Gavin Brown ended all doubts by breaking through a tired York defence for a stoppage time try, converted by Smith.

The short-term cost of York's false start is the loss of several key players to injuries but in a make-or-break season the long-term effects could prove far more damaging.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.