Author: temp test

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Haven Lose at Cougar Park after Bright First Half

🏉Looking for their first win since May Whitehaven travelled to Cougar park to take on Keighley Cougars who they defeated at the Recreation ground earlier in the campaign After an encouraging first half They faded in the second period as the hosts clinched a26–14 win over Whitehaven today:

🔥 First-Half Honours Even

  • Junior Nuu opened the scoring on 12 minutes after a lucky deflection
  • Junior Sa’u followed up with a second try just five minutes later.
  • Whitehaven bounced back with two late tries from Jay Weatherill, tying it 10–10 at halftime.

💪 Second-Half Surge by Cougars leaves Haven adrift

  • Keighley repeatedly attacked Whitehaven’s right edge, where defensive lapses allowed them to break through multiple times.
  • Brad Holroyd restored Keighley’s lead with a well-worked try on 53 minutes.
  • Then came the game-changer: Brad England powered through for two tries in quick succession, turning a tight game into a comfortable lead.
  • Whitehaven managed a late consolation try from Max Anderson-Moore, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
  • Final Score Keighley 26 Whitehaven 10
  • Abram
  • Weatherill
  • Todd
  • Hartley
  • Anderson-Moore
  • Bickerdike
  • Lowe
  • Thomson
  • Holgate
  • Pearce
  • Holliday
  • McQuistan
  • Kellett
  • Interchanges:  Garner, Blinkhorn, Brennan & Turnbull
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Haven lead at half time at Dewsbury but lose their way in the second half

Haven returned to action following a 28 day break looking to get a win but ultimately went down to a second-half comeback from the Rams as the hosts ran out 28–14 victors in today’s League clash at FLAIR Stadium

The Haven had not played since May 25th when they lost to Midland Hurricane’s !They welcomed back forwards Aaron Turnbull and Thompson but were without unfkuential backs Camero Brown , Chris Taylor and Jay Wetherill .The talking point before the clash focused on how that break might affect Havens as they started the game

For Whitehaven it could not have started any better thanks to tries from Jack Kellett and Kieran Tyrer, who also added a penalty and two conversions. At the break it was going well for Haven who led 14–4 at halftime

But the Rams roared back after the break, sparked by a try from Jacob Hookem, who also kicked four goals on the day.

Caelum Jordan was the standout, crossing twice in the final quarter, while Matt Garside sealed the win with a late try. It was a much-needed home victory for Dewsbury, who had struggled at FLAIR Stadium this season.

Coach Anthony Murray was disappointed with the overall performance putting the poor second half showing to individual errors which meant the team could not follow the game plan which had served them so well in the first 40 Mins

WHITEHAVEN
4 Ethan Bickerdike
2 Mitchell Todd
23 Tom Farren
15 Mason Lewthwaite
22 Max Anderson-Moore
7 Jack Newbiggin
6 Kieran Tyrer
18 Aaron Turnbull
9 Ellison Holgate
10 Jordan Thomson
11 Connor Holliday
19 Rio McQuistan
13 Jack Kellett
Subs (all used)
14 Luke Collins
21 Ellis Nixon
32 Daniel Spencer-Tonks
16 Brad Brennan

Tries: Kellett (5), Tyrer (38)
Goals: Tyrer 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 4-6, 4-8, 4-14; 10-14, 16-14, 22-14, 28-14

Whitehaven Man of he match : Ellison Holgate

Penalty count: 5-7
Half-time: 4-14
Referee: Denton Arnold

Dewsbury V Haven

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Haven lose to the Hurricanes after a bright start

The Haven travelled to the Midlands for their second game with the Hurricanes in 2025 After losing in the 1895 cup there in February ,Havens upturn in recent weeks  results suggested the outcome this time just might be different

Indeed the first 10 minutes of the game  Haven dominated possession ,taking the game to Hurricanes and it was no more than they deserved when Skipper Kellett went over for a try converted by Jay Wetherill as Haven led 6 nil .

The home side came more inro the game after that to score two converted trys but with half time beckoning Jay Wetherill slotted a goal to make the half time score  12pts to 8 to the  Hurricanes  . However the Haven were very much in the game ,  and had everything to play for after the break

The second half however was a different matter , On Havens first possession on the half they gave the ball away which allowed the home team to  attack the Haven line and score through Willis . This set the pattern for the rest of the clash as the home team took advantage of a series of Haven mistakes to score four more try  plus two goals as the Hurricanes delivered a dominant second half display  Whitehaven, securing a 38-8 victory.

Coach Murray was disappointed with the Second half display highlighting goal line defence as an area needing improvement . He said “No complaints Midlands were better than us …..Second half we did nothing  ……. Credit to them “

SO after todays results Haven stand 6th in League 1  with 9 points having completed the first half of rounds .better than expected at the start of the campaign and showing promise for the second half of the campaign

WHITEHAVEN
5 Jay Weatherill
2 Mitchell Todd
23 Tom Farren
4 Ethan Bickerdike
22 Max Anderson-Moore
28 Cameron Brown
7 Jack Newbegin
8 Jake Pearce
9 Ellison Holgate
32 Daniel Spencer-Tonks
11 Connor Holliday
19 Rio McQuistan
13 Jack Kellett
Subs (all used)
14 Luke Collins
21 Ellis Nixon
12 Clarke Chambers
16 Brad Brennan

Tries: Kellett (9)
Goals: Weatherill 2/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 12-6, 12-8; 16-8, 20-8, 26-8, 32-8, 38-8

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hurricanes: Sully Medforth; Whitehaven: Tom Farren

Penalty count: 8-5
Half-time: 12-8
Referee: Aaryn Belafonte
Attendance: 250

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Haven lose out at Swinton but show promise in Defeat

Haven travelled to South Manchester buoyed by their performance agains Warrington Wolves and including three new faces in loanee Tom McKinney NEW signing Cameron Brown and ex Barrow winger Max Anderson-Moore

The home side started well and on 6 minutes they broke down the left and fed the ball inside to the supporting Jordan Paga who touched down by the posts conversion was good . Haven came into it more after the opener and the strong wind was causing problems with the defenders as they tried to control the ball. Haven came into the game after that first 15 minutes and they opened their account when Ethan Bickerdike crossed on the right, but Kieran Tyrer was unable to add the conversion. Both sides then had chances at the line but handing let them down in the difficult conditions. The Lions went back in the lead twelve minutes from the break when a superb, angled run by Harry Higham saw the centre cut inside to race in under the posts and Abram added the conversion. . The half finished with both sides again having good chances but this time defences were on top The score at the hooter Swinton 12 Haven 4
It was Haven who made the good start in the second half and went close in the opening minutes but a knock on stopped them scoring but they did capitalise in the end when Aaron Turnbull took a couple of defenders with him to score by the posts and Tyrer converted this one. After that Haven dominated matters and created two clear cut scoring opportunities .

On 59 minutes Jack Newbigin made a good break on the right and with the line begging he held onto the ball rather than passing to supporting players . They then bombed a try on the left when Jordan Burns lost control of the ball going for the corner. The game could have gone either way and the defences were being tested but holding out well. One high kick by Haven caused major problems for the Lions defence as it was swirling and bouncing all over the place but in the end, Abram got it under control and cleared his line. The match winner for the Lions came with just under two minutes left when Abram put a high ball towards the line, and it was fumbled by a Haven defender and Higham was first to react to collect the ball and dive over on the right, but Abram was unable to convert, and the defences held out for the dying seconds.

Final Score Swinton Lions 16 Haven 10

Great effort and commitment from the Haven , their squad is coming together nicely , Was this our best squad ? I think so, with Keighley next up at the Recre there is definitely more to come

WHITEHAVEN

1 Jordan Burns 2 Mitchell Todd 3 Chris Taylor 4 Ethan Bickerdike 22 Max Anderson-Moore 6 Kieran Tyrer 26 Jack Newbegin
8 Jake Pearce 9 Ellison Holgate 10 Jordan Thomson 11 Connor Holliday 19 Rio McQuistan 13 Jack Kellett

Subs (all used) 14 Cameron Brown 17 Thomas McKinney 18 Aaron Turnbull 16 Brad Brennan Tries: Bickerdike (15), Turnbull 48) Goals: Tyrer 1/2

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Super League Wolves take the tie but Haven take the plaudits

Jordan Burns Havens man of the match in Cup tie v Warrington

This third round Challenge Cup tie was another test in the short history of this new look Haven squad , A win was never a realistic outcome to this tie . The question was how would Havens young guns shape up to their full time Super league Opponents . The ties played on Friday suggested a cricket score might be the outcome !

With four games played so far the Haven 17 man squad that was named for this game was probably their best combination while the Wolves if not at full strength had a good sprinkling of regular Super league players in their line up .

The team took to the field in a packed Ortus Recreation ground , 3980 being the official attendance

Much as expected it was the visitors who dominated the first quarter , Hooker Danny Walker got the Wolves first try of the day and went on to get another just before the break . Other trys for visitors came from Olli Leyland and winger Jake Thewlis and with three conversions the score at the interval wa Haven nil Warrington Wolves 22 . Though that scoreline does not reflect the efforts the Haven team put in especially in defence .

The second stanza continued with the Wolves adding to trys to extend their lead to 32 points . However on 59 mins the crowd were on their feet as Havens Jay Wetherill score maybe the games best try . With Haven in possession on the Halfway line Wolves overcommit on defence allowing Ethan Bickerdike to slip the ball to supporting Jordan Burns who sprints 40 yards and feeds Jay Wetherill for amazing try Goal missed Whitehaven 4 Warrington Wolves 32 but it was seventh heaven for the Haven fans

The Wolves continued to press forward and in the last 10 minutes added two more converted trys to make the final score Whitehaven 4 Warrington Wolves 44 . Not the rout some had predicted and a game which the young Haven squad will have learned a lot from and one where they can bask in the praise they deserve , while the club itself will have boosted its finances on the back of an almost four thousand gate

Onto the League 1 campaign at Swinton in a fortnight ,.

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Haven bow out of 1895 Cup in the Midlands

MIDLANDS Hurricanes put on a classy performance, for the first hour at least, to ease past Whitehaven and go through to the second round of the 1895 Cup.

After two good wins in the last fortnight the Haven could feel optimistic ahead of the tie however Coach Anthonly Murray opted for numerous changes in the Haven line up the outcome of this Cup tie was always in question .

The Home team led from the second minute of the match. After kicking a high bomb on the final tackle of their first set, the ball was spilled and from the scrum, Travis Corion dived over in the corner. Jake Sweeting converted well, as he would for eight of the Hurricanes’ nine tries in all including Matty Hanley’s first, picking up a pin-perfect Sweeting tip to run over unchallenged, soon after. Whitehaven got on the board on 16 minutes. A good set of passes ended with Ellis Nixon running over, and Kieran Tyrer converted to halve the deficit. On 22 minutes, it was 18-6. From a penalty, Midlands again played a strong set and Tom Wilkinson found a gap to run through for his side’s third try. Their fourth came just after the half-hour mark. Winning a second set thanks to a Haven knock-on, Midlands worked their way up from halfway culminating in Ross Oakes diving over in the corner. Before half-time they had a fifth try. Ethan Bickerdike tripped as he looked to pick up a long kick, resulting in a goal-line drop-out, and from that set Hanley finished off a good passing move. Sweeting couldn’t land a difficult kick – his only miss – but Midlands were 28-6 up at the break. Less than three minutes into the second half, Midlands again played an excellent move to score. Hanley caught the ball from a high bomb, offloading to Sweeting who happily grounded and converted. Whitehaven had spent less than five minutes with the ball in Midlands’ half during the first 40 minutes and even when they looked dangerous in the first 20 minutes of the second period, they wasted their chances. From a good-looking Whitehaven attack, Oakes intercepted and ran the first 40 metres to set up Midlands’ next try. He passed to Hanley who completed the other 50 metres. Then it happened again. This time it was Todd Horner who intercepted on his own ten-metre line, sprinting the full length himself and scoring under the sticks. Oakes was the next to score, grounding in the corner for his second of the game to bring up the half-century of points. Horner looked for a further try, which would have been Midlands’ tenth, but he dropped the ball as he tried desperately to get through the last line of defence. After that, it was all Whitehaven. Brad Brennan scored the first of their revival, converted by Jay Weatherill who then scored one of his own as Whitehaven put on their best move of the match to break open the tiring home defence. And to finish, Mason Lewthwaite picked up a grubber to score and Weatherill again converted.

GAMESTAR: Ross Oakes scored a couple of good tries, created another and ran hard for Whitehaven Jay Wtherill

GAMEBREAKER: Two tries in the first ten minutes of the second half gave Midlands a lead that was too much for Whitehaven.

WHITEHAVEN 4 Ethan Bickerdike 1 Aaron Burns 3 Scott Egan 2 Mitchell Todd 5 Jay Weatherill 6 Kieran Tyrer 26 Jack Newbegin 16 Brad Brennan 14 Luke Collins 17 Karl Garner 15 Mason Lewthwaite 21 Ellis Nixon 13 Jack Kellett Subs (all used) 24 Josh Blinkhorn 12 Clarke Chambers 23 Tom Farren 18 Aaron Turnbull Tries: Nixon (16), Brennan (68), Weatherill (71), Lewthwaite (77) Goals: Tyrer 1/1, Weatherill 3/3

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Haven Young Guns grab late Cup win!

After their Ike Southward win the previous week Havens new look squad welcomed Swinton Lions to the Ortus Recre for this 2nd round Challenge cup tie . On paper a tough assignment for the Haven young guns .

The Haven took the field with what was their strongest line up though missing Ellison Holgate , out with illness , his place was take by Aussie Luke Collins

The visitors started the brighter of the two teams and dominated most of the first half , Haven hardly troubled the visitors defence and frustration boiled over on the half hour after a scuffle between Whitehaven’s Jack Kellett and Swinton’s Reece Briers saw both being sent to the sin bin . At the half however Swinton Lions were good value for their 12-0 lead at halftime, with both tries scored by Aaron Lynch

The break saw Haven introduce Millom based hooker Josh Blinkhorn Could the Haven turn it round . Whitehaven slowly worked their way back into the game and started to apply pressure on the visitors line . On 53 mins Josh Blinkhorn justified his introduction with a cheeky try then 5 mins later good passing put Mitchell Todd in for a try at the corner flag , On 63 mins Tyrer put over a penalty to level the scores at 12 all . The belief in the Haven team was palpable and when Swinton lost the ball on their 20 metre line Mason Lewthwaite collected and sprinted over under the post to score a try which Tyrer converted with less than 10 mins Haven were 18-12 up , Could they hold on for a deserved win ? You bet ! with the game almost Jack Kellett, who is fast becoming Havens talisman , put in a surging run from 30 metres to touchdown and with Tyrer Converting ,made the final score Haven 24 Swinton 12

No less that this enthusiastic Haven squad deserved Whitehaven’s much improved display in the second half and a late surge secured their victory and a spot in the next round of the Challenge Cup when they will welcome super league giants big boys Warrington Wolves

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New Look Haven Team Win the Ike Southward Trophy

Whitehaven R:LFC Ike Southward Cup WInners 2025

With both Haven and Town having a busy off season this clash was eagerly anticipated . Both clubs recruiting heavily it was the first chance to gauge the relative merits of both squads.Havens new look squad of CARL based players while the move of a number of experienced players from the Recre to Derwent Park , not unexpectedly the bookmakers odds favoured Town . So with 1754 spectators in attendance the game kicked off with under a gey cloudy sky but with no rain or wind to spoil matters.

Haven started positively and took play to the Town line ,who having taken possession of the ball promptly lost it allowing Havens Keiran Tyrer to pick up and touchdown by the posts, He converted to make it Haven 6 Town 0 after only 4 mins . Haven continued to dominate field position with prop Jordan Thompson leading the way .

However the visitors came more into game as the game entered the second quarter and Town produced the best play of the game with a combination of slick passing and good support play finding gaps on the Haven left to score a converted try from Archer , Haven 6 Town 6

Then indiscipline play from Town as they conceded a series of penalties that gave Haven a good attacking position at the Railway end , where Centre Chris Taylor deft pass put trialist Mitchell Todd over for a well taken try in the right corned Haven 10 Town 6 and that was the score as the half time hooter sounded

Town started the second stanza strongly and took the lead with a converted try from Bradley on 56 mins/ However Haven only came back more determined . It was more Town indiscipline on 64 mins Tyrer converted a penalty to level the score at Haven 12 Town 12 .

With time running out and the game there for the taking it was the fledgling Haven side that showes more discipline a and determination . With veteran prop Brad Brennan leading the way the young Haven pack following his lead . On 67 mins Haven put pressure on the visitors line at the Kells end as Newbegin went close . Only to set up Brennan to force his way over for a try converted by Tyrer Haven 18 Town 12 .

With over 10 minutes remaining the Haven youngsters saw this one home to gain a maybe unexpected but thoroughly deserved win as Whitehaven won back the Ike Southward Trophy . Sponsors Man of the match was given to Keiron Tyrer though there were a number of Haven players who could have taken the accolade.

Thoughts now turn to next Saturdays Challenge Cup tie against Swinton , A game that offers the reward of a 3rd round home tie v Super League Warrington Wolves ; a tie that this young Haven team will look forward too after todays encouraging display .

Whitehaven RLFC Ike Southward Trophy Winners 2025