York Wasps 56, Dudley Hill 10

Captain marvel Craig Booth was agonisingly close to writing himself into the record books as York Wasps cruised into the fourth round of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup, writes Dianne Hillaby.

Booth scored four tries and six goals for a personal tally of 28 points in yesterday's 56-10 demolition of amateurs Dudley Hill.

That was just two short of the club's points in a match record of 30 set by Jamie Benn in the final match of last season.

And Booth revealed that he hadn't even realised until after the match. He said: "I wish somebody had told me. If I'd kicked one of the easier ones I would have broken the record. It is a bit disappointing but it was nice to come away with man of the match and help us get back on the right track."

That he got anywhere near the record was an outstanding achievement in near gale-force winds which should have made kicking impossible.

He kicked five from six attempts in the first half including some from the touchline but could manage only one after the break.

It was those missed second half efforts which were to cost him the record as Booth explained: "I know I've got a big kick. The first half was just a case of putting the ball where you want it and letting the wind do the rest. You knew where it would go. But in the second half it was swirling around. It was hit and hope."

It capped a remarkable month for second rower Booth who was still in retirement when the Wasps kicked off their season. Two games into the campaign he agreed to re-join the club then coach Dean Robinson named him as captain ahead of last week's match at Rochdale.

"Dean said I'd get the lads going and always lead from the front. I like to get the lads up for the game and there's nothing better than going out there and busting a gut," said Booth, who was delighted with the way the team responded yesterday after a disappointing start to the season.

"Last week we should have won, this week we played our sets of six out properly and instead of doing everything off the cuff it's been good professional stuff.

"Our half-backs took us forward and I got good ball off them which made it easier for me. We've nearly been there in the last couple of games and we've had a good chat and it's come right."

Assistant coach John Paterson, in his first game in charge while Dean Robinson takes a break, said of Booth: "It was his sort of game. We knew we had to take it to them early and he picked up the gauntlet."

He added: "We had a game plan and stuck to it and it just showed what they can do if they do that.

"We've worked hard on the confidence side this week and it showed. It was the first time I've seen Leroy McKenzie show anyone a clean pair of heels for his try and Matt Woodcock went in at centre off the bench and came up with the goods.

"The half-backs worked hard in training to iron the mistakes out and go for field position and percentage football."

Looking ahead to tonight's draw there was conflicting opinion as to the ideal tie.

While Paterson was hoping for a lucrative money spinner at a top Super League club, Booth said: "If we're going to get an away draw then you want a big club but I'd rather have a nice team at home.

"I want us to go as far as we can."

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