YORK Wasps were today awaiting the verdict on captain Peter Edwards, who suffered a head injury in yesterday's opening-day defeat by Whitehaven, writes Peter Martini.

Edwards lasted just three minutes, his absence proving crucial, said second-row Darren Crake.

"Losing him was a mental blow to one or two players."

Crake, yellow carded for fighting at the end of the first half, showed determination throughout the game.

"We all agreed at half-time not to let our heads go down. We don't want to mirror last season," he said.

"It was a disappointing scoreline. I thought we could have kept it a lot lower. But they (Whitehaven) have been work-ing together as a team for along time while we are all still getting used to one another.

"We can't expect miracles from the first game."

Added Crake: "We want the fans to stick by us as things will get better."