SHEER class. That's the difference between real Super League pretenders and the wannabes. And in Stanley Gene Hull Kingston Rovers have that class which could ultimately give them a shot at the top flight.

York Wasps' Leigh Deakin gets to grips with Hull KR's Paul Fletcher

It was two moments of magic from the unstoppable half back which was to prove the difference between the Robins and the Wasps as there was little to choose between the two sides for 95 per cent of a wonderful match.

His perfectly placed kick through set up Whetu Taewa to give Rovers the lead after just two minutes, then a superb solo try in the second half reasserted their authority after a brilliant Wasps fightback.

Other than that, York had been more than a match for the unbeaten Premiership leaders who they had not beaten on their own turf since Boxing Day 1958.

It was a performance full of spirit, tenacity and marvellous free-flowing rugby, the kind which could bring the Wasps rich rewards as the season progresses.

But this was just not their day. Taewa's try after two minutes conjured up visions of Workington, images which became even clearer when Richard Smith grabbed a second four minutes later.

But as the Wasps settled they began to impress, keeping the ball alive superbly against a wobbly Rovers defence.

In defence too the Wasps excelled, especially in the second half with Gene's 53rd minute wonder try the only blot on the copybook.

It wasn't enough though, and with Shaun Austerfield and Mick Ramsden both having second half efforts disallowed, York became the fourth team this season to leave Craven Park feeling more than a little unlucky.

The damage was done in those frantic opening minutes. A planned move worked to perfection when Gene kicked through from a scrum near the halfway line and former Sheffield Eagles centre Taewa raced ahead to gather the ball over the try line.

The second try came in the same place, just to the right of the posts, from another kick. This time Chris Charles was the provider as Smith reached the ball ahead of Leigh Deakin to score. Both were converted by Charles who finished with five goals from five attempts.

Yet another kick through, again from Gene, almost brought Rovers a third try after 11 minutes but Taewa was penalised for offside.

A shell shocked York then grabbed the initiative to put on some pressure of their own.

Darren Callaghan showed great skill to regather his own chip and work the ball out to the wing but it eventually went to ground. Leigh Deakin came close again after good work by Mark Cain, Rich Goddard and man of the match Matt Lambert but a Rovers hand knocked the ball dead with Deakin waiting to pounce.

Finally the break did come. Peter Edwards and Callaghan moved the ball along the line to Lambert and the second rower curved through a static defence before straightening up and running unopposed to the line, Jamie Benn converting with a fine kick.

A Charles penalty, for a holding down offence which earned Andy Precious a spell in the sin-bin, were the only other points of an exciting first period but there were worries for York that Gene had been just a bit too quiet.

Those worries were founded 13 minutes into the second half when Gene, ineffective for long periods, upped the tempo.

The stand off threw a dummy near the halfway line before sprinting through the York defence and leaving the cover for dead to score under the posts, prompting the Robins fans to burst into a verse of "Cheer up Stanley Gene."

Cheer up they did, but only temporarily as York hit the comeback trail.

Andy Preston was introduced to the action for his first game of the season after completing a seven-match ban to give the Wasps a new lease of life.

But it was another substitute, Alan Pallister, who gave York real hope when he sold a dummy and threw off the challenge of Ian Hughes for a trademark try, goaled by Benn.

Then came the two York tries that weren't, Austerfield's effort being ruled out after alleged crossing between Callaghan and John Strange and Ramsden's disallowed for a forward pass by Strange.

It still wasn't over though, and when Cain's delightful short pass sent Goddard bursting through a dramatic finale was on the cards.

Unfortunately Benn's conversion attempt hit the post and Charles gave Rovers vital breathing space when Strange was penalised in the last minute for not playing the ball.

It left the Wasps with just one point from their last three games but the performance will fill them with heart for their next big test at home to Hunslet just three days away.

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