York Wasps are still seeking their first win of the Northern Ford Premiership campaign after another battling but ultimately point-less display yesterday.

After almost a month without a league game following two postponements and a cup tie, the fact the match went ahead at all was a relief.

But any hopes that the snowfall and Arctic temperatures might prove a leveller between two teams at opposite ends of the table were dashed by a patient and hard-working Featherstone side.

Like so many times this season, York gave their more illustrious opponents a run for their money, particularly in the early stages, and trailed just 10-0 at half-time.

Sadly the result also followed the same pattern as class and experience, combined with too many Wasps errors, proved decisive.

The final scoreline was still a little flattering to Rovers who have now climbed into third place in the table, courtesy of Dewsbury and Doncaster's postponed clash.

Their greatest asset is having quality players in the positions that really make a difference.

On this occasion half-backs Gary Barnett and Jamie Rooney called the shots, Richard Chapman was a constant threat at hooker and they had the three-quarter line to exploit any gaps.

That included left winger Matt Bramald who was perhaps one of the unluckiest players on the field.

He could have claimed a first half hat-trick of tries - instead he had to settle for just one as the other two were both disallowed, one for a double movement after excellent work by York full-back Rich Darling and the other for offside from Chapman's kick.

It was down that left side where Rovers did much of the damage.

The strong running of Bramald and centre partner Nick Simpson, plus Wasps winger Paul Butterfield's failure to deal with kicks, caused problems and it was no surprise that it was Bramald who got the opener after 14 minutes.

It came when the Wasps were down to 12 men following Alan Pallister's late tackle on Rooney, which was put on report by referee Julian King.

York were debatably penalised for stealing the ball and the touch kick gave Rovers possession just ten metres from the York line.

The ball was shifted swiftly out to the left side and an overlap allowed Bramald to stroll over in the corner.

Until then York had given as good as they got, outstanding second rower Darren Crake causing problems in the Rovers defence with a fine early break.

But the visitors always appeared to have the greater fire-power in the try-scoring department and so it proved.

A 40-metre break by Spencer Hargrave breathed some life back into the Wasps but a couple of minutes later Rovers were in again. Chapman broke from 40 metres out, drew Darling and found Paul Darley in support to touch down against his former club, leaving Rooney with an easy conversion.

York again came out all guns blazing after the re-start but Rovers still held the decisive edge in attack.

Jamie Stokes almost extended their lead only to be forced out at the corner by Paddy Handley.

A couple of minutes later they did get over when second rower Neil Lowe brushed off three tackles and side-stepped Darling to score under the posts.

York to their credit refused to lie down and were rewarded with their only try of the game two minutes later.

Featherstone knocked the kick-off into touch giving York possession from the scrum ten metres from the Rovers line.

And they took full advantage as Handley put Darling through the angle and the red-haired full-back raced through the gap to score.

Gareth Oulton added the tricky conversion to keep alive York's hopes of an upset.

Unfortunately that wasn't to be as the Wasps began to make critical errors inside their own 22.

One such knock-on gifted Stokes Rovers' next try, but there was a touch of luck about the one that followed.

The ball bounced off the shoulder of a York player into the hands of Barnett and he raced to within touching distance of the Wasps line, setting up Simpson to score in the corner.

That virtually extinguished York's hopes and two late tries added insult to injury. Chapman was brought down just short but managed to spin in the tackle to ground the ball over the line, then substitute Andy Bastow gathered Rooney's chip to touch down between the sticks.

Rooney added a drop goal for good measure to complete Rovers' third win a week.

So the Rovers title bandwagon continues to gather pace - while York still wait to get out of the starting blocks.

York Wasps: Rich Darling 7, Paul Butterfield 6, Craig Moore 7, Gareth Lloyd 7, Gareth Oulton 6, Paddy Handley 6, Gareth Stephens 7, Mick Hagan 6, Alan Pallister 6, Craig Forsyth 7, Shaun Austerfield 6, Darren Crake 8, Spencer Hargrave 7.

Subs: Lee Hutchinson (for Forsyth 40mins) 6, Gareth Dobson (Crake 10) 7, Nathan Pincher (Hagan 26) 7. Re-subs: Crake (Dobson 21), Dobson (Pallister 40), Forsyth (Stephens 57). Not used: Adam Briggs. Sin-binned: Pallister (late tackle, 6mins) Sent off: None

Featherstone: Richard Gibson, Jamie Stokes, Steve Dooler, Nick Simpson, Matt Bramald, Gary Barnett, Jamie Rooney, Stuart Dickens, Richard Chapman, Gavin Morgan, Ricky Helliwell, Neil Lowe, Paul Darley. Subs: Gavin Swinson (for Darley 69mins), Danny Evans (Helliwell 55), Andy Bastow (Barnett 64), Micky Clarkson (Dickens 69). Sin-binned: None Sent off: None Penalties: York 12, Rovers 8 Scrums won: York 6, Rovers 11 Attendance: 704 Half-time: 0-10

Referee: Julian King (St Helens)

Updated: 11:42 Monday, February 05, 2001