Dominant Haven progress in Challenge Cup

Whitehaven won this Challenge Cup 5th round clash in emphatic fashion this afternoon, defeating York City Knights 38-12 at the LEL Arena with a strong first-half showing setting the platform.

Haven made only one change from the side that won comfortably against Dewsbury last time out with James Newton coming in for the injured Chris Taylor .

Haven received the kick off and spilled the kick giving the visitors a great attacking position but Haven defended that well and came back to score their first try of the afternoon with Andrew Bulman the beneficiary. Half-back Alex-Bishop failed to convert from the touchline and, with the Cumbrians leading by four, the two sides went set for set before the hosts, once again, began to create some pressure with strong drives.

Haven grew into the game and extended their lead on 23 minutes after a fortunate ricochet try. Nikau Williams’ grubber hit Jacob Ogden’s shins before deflecting off Connor Holliday’s and the Whitehaven man was first to the ball in the in-goal area. Bishop converted and the Haven led by ten with twenty-five minutes on the clock.

The final ten minutes of the first period would then take the game away from the Knights with three tries. First, Ryan King shrugged off the attentions of the Knights defence to score before breaking the line minutes later, drawing in full-back Harrison and passing to Geronimo Doyle. The third of a devastating ten-minute spell came with seconds remaining when Williams’ grubber held up in the mud and the half-back beat Harrison to the loose ball to score, leaving the half-time score 28-0 to the hosts.

With a big second half required, the Knights started with Ford’s words ringing in their ears. O’Hagan, who entered the field around the half-hour mark, got the Knights on the scoreboard with a try that saw him jink through the line before going over under the sticks. Liam Harris converted and made the score 28-6 after forty-eight minutes.

York tried hard to get back into the game for the next 15 minutes but resolute Haven defence kept their linr intact but then the tables turned and Whitehaven took the game away from the Knights.

As repeat sets and set restarts went Havens way s, Marsh and Davis were penalised for infractions in the tackle, the Knights had several sets on our own line to deal with and the Cumbrians broke our defensive line with King. The ball from the Australian went towards our line and, with the officials deeming a Knights hand knocked it backwards, the ball was grounded by Connor Holliday and Bishop converted to extend the hosts’ lead to 34-6.

On the 76th minute, Holliday scored his second of the afternoon to put the final nail in the Knights coffin.

In the last minute, however, it was the Knights who scored the last points of the match with Joe Brown scoring Harris converted to make it 38-12 but it was the Haven who deservedly took this tie and progress to the 6th round and a game potentailly against Super League opposition

Haven take early lead on Tyneside but then fall to Nine try Defeat

Whitehaven conceded nine tries in a disappointing fade-out at Kingston Park where they lost 40-24 to Newcastle Thunder.

After last weeks win at London Haven started this clash in a confident mood and looked with a large travelling support in attendance they started so positively

Haven raced into a 12 nil lead in the first quarter with converted trys from Ryan King and Tom Wilkinson . The Thunder then hit back with four quickfire trys to take the lead 16-12 before Haven struck back with trys by Alex Bishop and Callum Phillips both converted and Haven were in Front 24-16 at the break

But that was a good as it got for Haven they didn’t score a single point in the second-half when Thunder scored five trys and 24 unanswered points and came back strongly to win with room to spare. A really bad 40 mins

Haven Jonty Gorley was a very frustrated coach in his post game interview , He said that the overall peformance was ” Just not good enough” and that he was “embarressed” at the second half performance from his charges .

Next weeks Challenge Cup Ties at Doncaster on this showing is looking like a potential banana skin for Haven but a resolute Jonty Gorley said that “Attitudes need to change ” and that this week he was looking for a” reaction not words ” from his squad threatening a number of personnel changes for this clash ,

Strong words indeed !

Whitehaven gained their first win of the 2022 season with a close but deserved victory over London Broncos at the modern Plough Lane stadium in Wimbledon .

Both teams went into this game having played two lost two games , Haven coach Jonty Gorley had said in the build up that Haven could win this game if they played clever and and kept the mistakes to a minimum . Against this the Broncos were playing at home and had not lost a home clash with the Haven since 1990 .

The game kicked off in wet windy conditions and given both sides patchy start to the season good attacking football was going to be at a premium . It was hardly surprising that the first half ended scoreless 40 mins played and it was Nil all .

The game having developed into an arm wrestle and the weather showing no sign of abating , then the first score was always going to be crucial to the final result

After 46 mins Haven pressed the home line and put in a grubber kick which Havens Connor Holliday got to first to touchdown , Alex Bishop added the goal and it was Haven who made that opening score , But could they maintain that ?

The answer was Yes ! Haven showed good game management to keep the home team at arms length . A penalty in injury time converted by Alex Bishop as the final hooter sounded made the final score London Broncos nil Haven 8

Not a pretty win but two points thank you ! Haven will travel to Newcastle next Saturday with this win as a massive confidence boost