DELIGHTED coach Leo Epifania had little trouble in summing up the feeling in the York Wasps' camp after tasting victory in England for the first time.

The Aussie had seen his team lose six consecutive Northern Ford Premiership games, the latest last week taking the Wasps to a new club record of 25 consecutive defeats.

But that all ended yesterday as a seven-try romp saw the Wasps overpower gutsy amateur outfit Milford Marlins 42-0 at Headingley and canter into the fourth round of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup.

"It's like having sex when you haven't had it for about ten years," joked Epifania of the long-awaited triumph.

"We've put a lot of hard work in without anything to show for it, but we got a good result yesterday.

"Probably the main thing about it was that it gave us the opportunity to run a few plays and not have continual pressure on us throughout the game. We know we are capable of attacking and we know our plays will work now that we've tested them out.

"Obviously the reality of the matter is we still need to do it against NFP sides, and we're coming up against a very tough side next week (Leigh Centurions).

"Milford tried hard but they're at a different level. It goes to show there can be a big step up in level when you go from one standard to the next. After some of our defeats this season I know how they feel."

The Wasps' clean sheet was only the club's second in almost eight years, and Epifania said: "That was very satisfying. It was something we spoke about before the game and to put it on paper was pleasing."

Wasps also showed an improvement in handling, especially in such slippery conditions.

"Maybe we should be putting oil on these guys' hands rather than grip stuff, they might hold the ball more," the Aussie quipped.

"Maybe it's more a mind thing than anything else. If you're mind is set right you do better."

Epifania also had words of praise for man of the match Mark Cain, whose switch to loose-forward from half-back proved a great success as he scored two tries and made several telling contributions.

"I thought he had a great running game for us," he said. "We were lacking somebody punching in the holes but he did that for us and went well at lock."

There was a spirited performance too from Heworth before their Challenge Cup clash away to Wasps' NFP rivals Batley Bulldogs ended in a commendable 34-4 defeat.

Phil Sturdy, who coaches Heworth alongside Brendan Carlyle, heaped the praise on his players.

He told the Evening Press: "I'm very proud of the lads.

"We've had a few setbacks at the club, but we got on with the job and did well.

"In the first half, we played really well and could have gone in 14-10 behind had a kick come off, while in the second, although Batley's professional edge did show, we stuck at it and our fitness showed in the final 20 minutes.

"Brendan Carlyle and myself are just so proud, hopefully we go on from here."

Updated: 11:55 Monday, January 28, 2002