NEW coach Leo Epifania now knows the job he faces at York Wasps.

If proof were needed that he has an almighty task to get the Wasps into the top nine of the Northern Ford Premiership, then the first 13 minutes of today's season opener provided enough evidence.

It was as much poor defending as smart attacking which saw Whitehaven score three early tries to end the match as a contest, but perhaps Epifania's biggest task concerns how to bring some luck to Huntington Stadium.

To lose captain Peter Edwards after just three minutes of his first game back at the club underlined Wasps' continuing misfortune, and it was a knockout blow.

An apparent clash of heads in the tackle left the inspirational Kiwi out for the count and he was in no state to play any further part.

The Kiwi's experience was badly missed as his opposite number, Aaron Lester, continually made yardage from acting half. And within ten minutes of Edwards' departure, Haven were 18-0 up through tries by Lester, Leroy Joe and Rob Purdham.

Before half-time Lester and Joe both scored again, while Purdham rounded off an especially silky display by completing a hat-trick early in the second half with two tries of individual brilliance. O'Neil added five conversions and a penalty.

Epifania's team's display in the second period, however, gave proof that improvement is not impossible.

They kept the ball better, defended better and generally showed more cohesion, even enjoying a couple of consecutive sets of six as Whitehaven were twice forced to drop out.

At 32-0 down at the break, the Wasps could have capitulated, but they lost only by two tries to one in the second half to suggest that huge reverses are not going to again be a weekly occurrence.

Visiting coach Paul Cullen was delighted his side defended so well, however the Wasps got on the scoresheet near the end. New-boy Carl Hall, who gave glimpses of attacking excellence throughout, gave the scoring pass to Shaun Austerfield after a fine move had seen the ball transferred from right to left.

York Wasps: Molloy 6, Mulholland 6, Austerfield 6, Hall 7, Deakin 5, Liddell 6, Cain 5, Precious 7, Edwards, Hutchinson 6, Pincher 6, Crake 6, Ramsden 6. Subs used: Docherty 7, Acklam 6, Waite 5. Subs not used: Grady.

Sin-binned: Crake (40). Sent off: None.

T: Austerfield (78).

Whitehaven Warriors: Wilson, Wallace, Seeds, Hill, O'Neil, R Purdham, Joe, Cox, Lester, Vaughan, Miller, McKinney, G Purdham. Subs used: Jackson, Smith, Sherwin, Kirkbride.

Sin-binned: Lester (40), G Purdham (62). Sent off: None.

T: Lester (6, 30), Joe (11, 35), R Purdham (13, 45, 54); C: O'Neil 6; P: O'Neil.

Referee: Paul Lee.

Attendance: 790.