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