IT ended 386 days of hurt.

York Railway Institute's 11-7 win over Wath-on-Dearne last weekend was more than just two points on the board - it was the New Lane club's first victory in more than a year.

The Railwaymen had last experienced the sweet smell of success on September 16, 2006, when Ashington were comfortably beaten 36-22 in the EDF Senior Vase.

It was downhill from thereon in.

RI, promoted to Yorkshire Two at the end of the 2005-06 season, were relegated without scoring a single league point. Their record read: played 22, lost 22.

So when the first four games of this Yorkshire Three campaign also ended with RI on the wrong side of the scoreboard, their loyal fans could have been forgiven for thinking the losing run might never end.

But, despite the poor results, morale among the players never dipped says Nigel Lowrey, club spokesman.

Lowrey, a former prop who has been associated with RI for nearly four decades, is optimistic for the future. When injuries clear, the club can make the Yorkshire Three top four, he declares.

Off the field, there is a hive of feverish activity. Major developments are on the way to revamp RI's New Lane headquarters - building new changing rooms, new toilets and a coach education centre which will double up as a community facility.

And with a victory, the relief is palpable.

"We should have won easily but we were without John Alexander, Chris Lynch and Paul Reed who were missing through injury. Second-rower Matty Stewart was also unavailable last week," Lowrey said.

"But it was absolutely fantastic. The lads were absolutely over the moon, as you would expect. In every game the effort has been there. Last season was a step too far and while we played a lot of good rugby we weren't good enough."

RI's fabulous promotion campaign was built on the back of a formidable trio. Wallabies Michael Tyrpenou and Anthony Allport, who played junior rugby with Australia centre Matt Giteau, linked up with South African Justin Hardman to terrorise Yorkshire Three.

But when the trio left, RI were found wanting. Now they're hoping their latest collection of southern hemisphere starlets can hit just as hard on the pitch.

"We also lost Nathan Ashman who was a loyal stalwart," Lowrey added. "Anthony, Michael and Justin gave us an extra bit of class. We expected the two Aussies to see another season but they left and that left us a bit lax. We didn't foresee it. We didn't recruit and so we were in trouble - especially when we were hit with injuries.

"Now we have got two Australians in Tom Quirke and Rick Lindsley. Both are 19, on holiday and have come down to play. Tom is hooking for us but he can also play in the centre, while Rick is playing openside.

"We are close to getting everyone back - within the next ten days or so - and when we do I believe we can finish in the top four. We have another southern hemisphere player coming along as well. We have got the talent. If we don't lose players to injury again, we can do it."

RI's off-field transformation is costing in the region of £500,000 and it's hoped that building work can start next April.

Alan Warriner, on the development committee, thinks the re-vamp will be the start of big things.

"It's hoped that York RI will become a centre of sporting excellence in the west side of York and provide a focal point for the local community to enjoy their kind of sport, pass time or just have a drink and a chat," he said.

"The club is working closely with many partners including the Rugby Football Union, the Football Foundation, the Netball Association and City of York Council."

Garforth await today in the EDF Energy Junior Vase with RI confident of recording a quick double - this time for all the right reasons. Then the Railwaymen look to build on their league win with a trip to Barnsley and a clash with Thornensians in front of their own fans.

Optimism abounds. "Whatever happens we will still be playing rugby here for years to come," Lowrey said. "The club, as a whole, is very buoyant."