COACH Leo Epifania has again stressed the need for York Wasps to strengthen the squad following their 54-0 mauling by Rochdale yesterday.

The Aussie saw his side crash to a club record 25th consecutive defeat at Spotland - the same ground where the Wasps, then coached by Lee Crooks, suffered their worst defeat in history when going down 98-0 last season.

And, although that record means little to the Aussie, who has only been at Huntington for six games, he knows that a more powerful team is needed for the Wasps compete with the top outfits in the Northern Ford Premiership, such as Rochdale.

"I did not expect it to go like that," he said. "I always expect my players to fight but it's hard to keep fighting when you're loaded up with guns that have no bullets.

"We just haven't got the firepower to match it with some of these teams. We haven't got the firepower and they're shooting cannons.

"I can't blame my players because we can only fight with what we've got. There's effort and commitment but our handling errors are too high again, we missed a lot of tackles and basically we've got players who are not up to this standard.

"Unless we sort it out and get the right players on the pitch we can't be really competitive with these top sides.

"I can't really take many positives out of yesterday's game. I know there are a few guys who give their all every week but there's only so much they can do."

Epifania, who was without six first-teamers through injury or unavailability, added: "At the end of the day I had no options. In reality I only just had enough players to get on the field. At this stage I don't know who will be back next week."

That game next Sunday offers the Wasps the perfect opportunity to end their losing streak, as they take on amateurs Milford Marlins in the Challenge Cup third round at Headingley.

But Epifania said: "There the pressure will be on us, as they're not expected to win.

"They're going to come out all fired up. It'll be up to the integrity of our team as to whether we can put their fire out.

"We should be able to beat them comfortably but it's up to us to take it to them."

As for the record, he joked: "At least I can say I was here when the club broke a record!

"But, in all honesty, there has been no talk of the record at the club because most of the players here haven't been round long enough."

Updated: 11:45 Monday, January 21, 2002