Category: News

Posted on

Workington Town V Whitehaven Match Preview

Whitehaven RLFC — Latest Team News

Whitehaven come into the derby after a 42–20 loss at Barrow last weekend. Head coach James Newton confirmed:

  • The squad will undergo a couple of HIA assessments before finalising the team.
  • Rising winger Xenden Callander is expected to keep his place after strong recent performances.
  • Whitehaven’s previous matchday squad vs Barrow (23 Aug) shows the most recent available selection, including changes such as:
    • Jay Weatherill shifting to fullback
    • Jake Pearce moving from bench to front row
    • David Eccleston, Lewis Brown, Jackson Smith coming in
    • Jack Newbegin, Marc Shackley, Alfie Sinclair out (Shackley retiring today)

🔎 Likely Whitehaven core players today

Based on last week’s squad and Newton’s comments, the following players are strong candidates to feature:

  • Jay Weatherill
  • Xenden Callander
  • Ethan Bickerdike
  • Mitchell Todd
  • David Eccleston
  • Ciaran Walker
  • Ryan Johnston
  • Jake Pearce
  • Ellison Holgate
  • Brad Brennan
  • Connor Holliday
  • Ben Pearce
  • Jack Kellett
  • Bench options: Ellis Nixon, Lewis Brown, Jackson Smith

Posted on

Barrow Raiders v Haven Match Preview

This is Barrow’s final game of the regular Betfred Championship season, with a play‑off place already secured. Whitehaven arrive needing a strong finish going into the play offs after a run   of results over the last six weeks.

Barrow won the reverse fixture 30–0 at the Ortus Rec in February .

📊 Current Form

Barrow Raiders (Strong, Play‑off Bound)

Barrow’s recent results show a team finishing the season well:

Barrow sit 5th in the Championship table with 16 wins from 23 .

Whitehaven RLFC (Improving and Dangerous)

Whitehaven sit 9th with 9 wins, 11 losses, 1 draw .

🔍 Head‑to‑Head

Recent history strongly favours Barrow:

Barrow have won 7 of the last 10 meetings

Last meeting: Whitehaven 0–30 Barrow (Feb 2026)

Whitehaven’s last win over Barrow: 23–22 (Mar 2024)

 Squad News

Barrow welcome back Matt Costello, Harvey Makin, Ellis Robson, Brad Singleton into the 21-man squad.

Whitehaven’s name 19 players in the squad with an emphasis on local talent .For this game Jack Newbegin and Alfie Sinclair miss out through HIA protocol but  welcome back Dave Eccleston come into the squad.

Bickerdike , Brennan , Brown , Callander , Holgate ,Holliday ,Kellett .McQuistan ,Nixon ,B. Pearce ,J. Pearce , Shackley ,  Smith , Todd , C. Walker , W. Walker (loanee) ,Weatherill

Williamson , Ecclestone

4. Motivation

Barrow want momentum heading into the play‑offs.

Whitehaven want to finish the season with a statement win over a Cumbrian rival ahead of their clash with Town next week

.

🏁 Final Verdict

Barrow enter with better form, better squad depth, and home advantage. Whitehaven have enough confidence and  firepower to make it competitive

Posted on

Haven name 20 man squad for todays Home clash with Dewsbury Rams


James Newton has named a twenty man squad for todays clash with Dewsbury Rams as they llok for the wun that will confirm their playoff place

Out goes St Helens Lonaee Marsh though included two loanees: Alfie Sinclair and Woody Walker.

Whitehaven RLFC squad vs Dewsbury Rams (today)

(20‑man match squad)

  • Bickerdike
  • Brennan
  • Brown
  • Callander
  • Holgate
  • Holliday
  • Kellett
  • McQuistan
  • Newbegin
  • Nixon
  • B. Pearce
  • J. Pearce
  • Shackley
  • Sinclair (loanee)
  • Smith
  • Todd
  • C. Walker
  • W. Walker (loanee)
  • Weatherill
  • Williamson
Posted on

Rochdale Hornets v Whitehaven Match Preview

Here’s a full, grounded match preview for Rochdale Hornets vs Whitehaven, based on the latest available form, head‑to‑head data, and predictive models. Kick‑off: Sunday 9 August 2026, 3:00pm, Crown Oil Arena, Rochdale.

Current Form & Momentum

Whitehaven arrive with far stronger recent form, winning 4 of their last 6 including solid home victories over Goole Vikings (46–16) and Swinton (34–24). Their only heavy defeats came away to top‑tier sides Newcastle and Sheffield.

Rochdale, meanwhile, have struggled badly, losing 5 of their last 6, including heavy defeats to Sheffield (56–6), Hurricanes (42–4), and Newcastle (66–0). Their only bright spot was a narrow win over Swinton back in May.

Head‑to‑Head

Historically, Whitehaven have dominated the fixture, winning 34 of 59 meetings since 1962. More recently:

  • Mar 2026: Whitehaven 20–0 Rochdale
  • Aug 2025: Rochdale 36–32 Whitehaven
  • Mar 2025: Whitehaven 24–20 Rochdale

League Position (as of early August 2026)

  • Whitehaven: 10th
  • Rochdale: 15th Whitehaven sit five places higher and have a significantly better points difference.

Predictive Model

Sports4Cast gives Whitehaven a 66% win probability, predicting a 26–20 away victory.

🔮 Predicted Score

Whitehaven RLFC 26 – 18 Rochdale Hornets

Whitehaven’s stronger pack, better recent discipline, and more consistent attack should see them through. Rochdale may stay competitive at home, but their defensive frailties make it hard to back them.

Posted on

Your invitation to Marras Memories – A weekly Online Rugby League Meet Up

Whitehaven Rugby League Supporters Trust are inviting sports fans to an informal chat, each week to take a nostalgic look back on their memories of ‘the greatest game.’ this week and every Thursday

We will also be looking at current events at the Club where you can share your thoughts on all mattesr Whitehaven RL

Topic: Marra’s Memories – RL Reminiscence Session with Looking Back
Time: Thursday 02:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89094817147

Meeting ID: 890 9481 7147

These online sessiosn not only have local participants but literally we welcome Haven Fans from the legth and breadth of the country literraly from Cornwall to John O Groats

Join us every Thursday 2 pm for a good old rugby crack All welcome

Posted on

Haven announce Squad to play Hunslet

Whitehaven’s full 21‑man squad to play Hunslet is confirmed, and here’s the complete lineup drawn from the latest published squad announcement (25 July 2026).

🟦 Whitehaven 21‑man squad

  • Bickerdike — outside back
  • Brennan — forward
  • Brown — forward
  • Burns — fullback/half
  • Callander — wing
  • Eccleston — wing/centre
  • Drachenberg — versatile back (new signing from Wigan)
  • Holgate — hooker
  • Holliday — second row
  • Kellett — loose forward
  • McQuistan — forward
  • Newbegin — halfback
  • B. Pearce — forward
  • J. Pearce — forward
  • Shackley — prop
  • Smith — bench forward
  • Todd — centre
  • C. Walker — stand‑off
  • W. Walker — young forward returning from Castleford
  • Jay Weatherill — wing
  • Liam Williamson — hooker/bench

  • Woody Walker returns from Castleford after reserve‑grade duty.
  • Jaiden Drachenberg joins from Wigan to bolster the backs.
  • Squad depth is improved after weeks of limited availability.
  • Coach James Newton and Neil Frazer looking to build on the win over Goole Vikings.

Posted on

Improving Haven Romp to Victory over Goole

Whitehaven 46–16 Goole Vikings Betfred Championship – 19 July 2026

Whitehaven completed a Championship double over Goole Vikings with an emphatic 46-16 victory at the Ortus REC, recording their fourth consecutive home win.

The hosts led 14-10 at half-time after tries from Rio McQuistan and Jay Weatherill, with Cieran Walker adding two conversions and a penalty. Goole stayed in touch through tries from Callum Shaw and Josh Guzdek, with one conversion from Miller.

Whitehaven took control immediately after the interval. Early second-half tries from Liam Williamson (41st minute) and Ellison Holgate (44th minute) stretched the lead, although Jeylan Hodgson responded for the Vikings shortly afterwards.

As the game progressed, Whitehaven’s superiority became increasingly evident. Further tries from Jay Weatherill, Ethan Bickerdike, and Ben Pearce sealed a convincing win, while Walker finished with an impressive individual points tally thanks to six conversions and three penalty goals.

Great team peformance from an improving Haven team Special mention to veteran prop Brad Brennan who played almost 70 minutes , Something that doesn’t happen very iften in the modern game

Key Points

  • Final Score: Whitehaven 46–16 Goole Vikings.
  • Half-time: Whitehaven 14–10 Goole Vikings.
  • Whitehaven scored seven tries in total.
  • The win moved Whitehaven into 10th place in the Championship table with six matches remaining.
  • Whitehaven scorers: Rio McQuistan, Jay Weatherill (2), Liam Williamson, Ellison Holgate, Ethan Bickerdike, Ben Pearce.

Goole Vikings scorers: Callum Shaw, Josh Guzdek and Jeylan Hodgson.

Posted on

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

Posted on

Haven Run Riot in the Duchy of Cornwall

On their first ever trip to the Duchy  Whitehaven RL carried on their impressive form of late . Almost from the start it was one way traffic from Haven scoring 14 trys and kicking 11 goals

Early Dominance: Whitehaven took control early in the game, scoring multiple tries within the first 20 minutes, setting the tone for their dominant performance .

Defensive Strength: Whitehaven’s tackling  was particularly strong, preventing Cornwall from making significant progress and limiting their scoring opportunities

Second Half Surge: Whitehaven continued their aggressive play in the second half, adding several more tries to their tally and widening the gap further

Cornwall’s Lone Try: Cornwall managed to score a single try, showing some resilience despite the overwhelming pressure from Whitehaven

Haven played well as a team but standout included

Jordan Burns: The Whitehaven captain and fullback scored four tries and successfully converted three goals

Mason Lewthwaite: A second-row player who also scored four tries, showcasing his strength and agility .

Jay Weatherill: Contributed significantly with his playmaking skills and scored a try .

Ethan Bickerdike: Scored two tries, adding to Whitehaven’s dominant performance

Jordan Burns , Jay Wetherill Mitchell Todd Ethan Bickerdike , , Harry Hadfield , Cam Brown , Jack Newbegin , Jordan Thompson , Lewis Collins Jake Pearce ,Connor Holliday , Mason Lewthwaite  , Jack Kellett , Subs Aaron Turnbull , Ellison Holgate , Brad Brennan Ellis Nixon  Josh Blinkhorn

Posted on

Haven edge win against table topping Hornets

The new look Haven squad have made big strides in the early part of the season However this game was to be their most searching  test of the season against table topping Rochdale hornets So it proved to be as this clash was filled with exciting moments and ultimately an unexpected . Here are some of the key highlights:

Early Dominance by Whitehaven: Whitehaven took control early in the game, scoring three tries within the first half-hour. Jake Pearce, Cameron Brown, and Connor Holliday each crossed the line to give Whitehaven a deserved 18-0 lead with half time beckoning .

Rochdale’s Comeback: Despite Whitehaven’s early dominance, Rochdale fought back with two tries before halftime. Duane Straugheir and Myles Harrop scored to reduce the deficit to 18-8 at the half time break :;making it a competitive game1.

Second Half See-Saw: The second half saw both teams having periods of dominance. Whitehaven extended their lead with a penalty goal, but Rochdale responded with a try from Max Flanagan and Greg McNally , bringing the score closer1.

Crucial Try by Ellison Holgate: In the final moments, Ellison Holgate scored a vital try for Whitehaven, which proved to be decisive. Despite Rochdale’s efforts to snatch a draw, Whitehaven held on to secure the win  that their play deserved

Dramatic Finish: The game ended in dramatic fashion with Rochdale’s Dan Nixon knocking on after the hooter, ending their hopes of a comeback and confirming a narrow but deserved win for Haven 20-14

A thrilling match and a great advert for League 1  with both teams showing great skill and determination

Jordan Burns , Mitchell Todd Ethan Bickerdike , Chris Taylor , Jay Weatherill  , Cam Brown , Jack Newbegin , Jordan Thompson , Lewis Collins Jake Pearce ,Connor Holliday , Rio Mc Quiston , Jack Kellett , Subs Aaron Turnbull , Ellison Holgate , Brad Brennan Tom McKinney  Mason Lewthwaite