THE revolving door has spun at York Wasps, with two talented youngsters coming in and one going the other way.

The Wasps have signed former London Broncos winger Michael Forbes from Batley Bulldogs and have brought on trial ex-Hull KR scrum-half Scott Yeaman, while prop Nathan Pincher has gone on loan to Northern Ford Premiership rivals Hunslet Hawks.

Yeaman was set to be thrown in against in-form Rochdale tomorrow (kick off 3pm) while coach Leo Epifania was going to leave it late before deciding if Forbes should feature at Spotland, where defeat will see the Wasps set an unwanted club record of 25 consecutive defeats, the old record having stood since 1950.

The Hornets, on the other hand, are enjoying the longest current unbeaten run in the NFP (not including play-offs) stretching back 13 games to a 44-18 defeat at promoted Widnes Vikings in May. Their winning run of 12 matches was halted by last week's 12-12 draw with Leigh.

Epifania, though, was not interested in records. "There's been nothing said about it at training and it really hasn't gone through my mind," he told the Evening Press.

"The record has got nothing to do with me or most of the players here now and it's not adding any extra pressure. The game against Rochdale will be tough with or without it."

Epifania will have to do without Kiwi centre Carl Hall, who is ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained in last week's defeat by Hull KR, while forward Ian Kirke is a doubt with ankle trouble.

Ben Sorbello has recovered from a thigh injury but he will still be rested this weekend, with Jamie Benn, his rival for the number one shirt, keeping his place at full-back, while prop Andy Hutchinson is included in a squad of 19.

Epifania was expecting to make further alterations to the line-up.

Rob Lee is likely to switch to centre, with Jon Liddell moving to lock and Mark Cain to stand-off. Hull-based Yeaman is set to come in at scrum-half.

The 20-year-old was Rovers' Academy player of the year last season but never broke into the first team at New Craven Park and his contract ended.

A former Hull Boys junior, he joined Rovers in 1998 and was recommended to Wasps by the Robins, with the Huntington Stadium club handing him a two-week trial with a view to a permanent switch.

"We have a good working relationship with Hull KR," said Wasps chief executive Ann Garvey, adding: "It's not for me to speculate on why they didn't sign him again.

"He's been training with us this week and has shown up well. He's got a lot of skill and we understand he's got quite a lot of pace as well."

She added: "If need be, we will extend his trial period but we've taken him on trial with thoughts of signing him."

Forbes, 20, starred for the Broncos' Alliance team last term after making his way through their junior ranks, but after the Alliance set-up was scrapped he became surplus to requirements.

The Londoner joined Batley at the beginning of the season but has yet to start for their first team.

"I was interested in him before he went to Batley and he has since approached me saying he was unsettled and asking if I would be interested in taking him on," said Garvey.

"I spoke to Batley about it and they told me they were prepared to release him. He came down and had a training session and we signed him on.

"He was recommended to me by an ex-member at London Broncos and is a very pacy winger."

Pincher, meanwhile, has headed to Hunslet on a one-month loan in a bid to get first-team action.

He played 20 times for Wasps last season, becoming a regular from February onwards, and started the first two games this term. However, he has been left out since.

Garvey said: "He's not been getting his place at the moment but was wanting first-team rugby.

"One of the best ways to do that was to find if anyone wanted to take him on loan, and there was an opportunity for him to go to Hunslet."

The 21-year-old is the only player on Wasps' books to be signed up for three years and remains in the club's thoughts for the future.

"He is one of the long-term contracted players," said Garvey. "He's a young boy with a lot of talent and we need to keep an eye on him."

York Wasps: from Benn, Mulholland, Austerfield, Molloy, Liddell, Cain, Docherty, Edwards, Hill, Kirke, Ramsden, R Lee, Precious, Barrow, Deakin, A Lee, Hutchinson, Forbes, Yeaman.

Updated: 10:54 Saturday, January 19, 2002