WHITEHAVEN avoided relegation in emphatic fashion as they beat Doncaster 52-22 at The Recreation Ground on Saturday night. 

Over a year on from that dramatic final day of the season last year, Haven went into their final fixture of the season with their future in their own hands. 

Had they been beaten, there would have been an uneasy wait until the conclusion of Hunslet’s fixture against Batley on Sunday. 

Thankfully, for the West Cumbrians, they wouldn’t need to wait as their convincing win consigned Hunslet to relegation and Haven made sure they would remain in the second tier for 2016. 

After three consecutive defeats the pressure was on Haven going into the crunch fixture but, after a back and forth opening 20 minutes, they took the lead thanks to a moment of magic from star man Dion Aiye and refused to look back. 

Aiye’s try was quickly followed up by tries from James Newton and Craig Calvert to give Haven a deserved 16-0 lead and a there was an air of optimism at The Recre. 

A try from Tyla Hepi put Haven 20 points ahead before Sam Doherty pulled one back for the visitors from South Yorkshire.

Calvert scored a second try on the stroke of half time and Haven were 40 minutes from confirming their place in the Championship next year. 

They picked up where they left off at the start of the second half with Aiye crossing for his fifth try in two games. Chamberlain then scored after breaking through a tired Doncaster defence and running 90 metres, converting his own try to put Haven 40-4 ahead. 

With the game seemingly won, the Cumbrians were guilty of taking their foot off the pedal as the conceded back to back penalties and allowed Danny Cowling to pick up a try down the right-hand side. 

Jessie Joe Parker restored Haven’s lead as prop forward James Robinson, playing in his final game before retirement, successfully kicked the touchline conversion. 

Sam Foster scored for Doncaster after a break by Peter Fox but this was quickly followed by a try from Sam Brooks who took Haven to 50 points. 

Haven then beat their points total from the last time these two sides met as Robinson kicked a second conversion before being subbed off a minute from time for a 52-16 lead. 

Doncaster had the final say as former Haven player Tom Carr scored on the final hooter but it made no change to the fact Haven were safe.

Aiye’s first try was a moment of brilliance as he broke through Doncaster’s defence to then run in from 80 metres and then backed himself to beat three defenders to help put Haven ahead. Chamberlain kicked the first of six conversions to give Haven a 6-0 lead. 

Substitute Newton made an immediate impact after coming on from the bench as, with he first touch, he backed up Brooks who darted through a gap and then took the pass before going over for his side’s second try. 

Calvert was then put over for the first of his two tries after a move from right to left and Haven were in the driving seat. 

Hepi then scored on the right after beating Doncaster’s defence to a kick through from Chamberlain to put Haven 22-0 up. 

The first of the visitor’s four tries came through Doherty as he was played into space down the right but Haven hit back immediately before the half-time hooter with a kick from a scrum which Calvert touched down for a 28-4 scoreline. 

Haven scored a similar try at the start of the second half with Grant Gore kicking through and Aiye reacting first to score his second. 

Chamberlain then scored one of the tries of the afternoon as he took a high kick from Joe McLocklan and then raced 90 metres to score under the sticks. 

The two sides would then exchange tries before the end of the game with Cowling scoring for Doncaster before Aiye set up his international team-mate Parker with a slick offload after latching on to a poor pass from the visitors. 

Foster scored down the right and then Brooks scored after backing up Thomas Coyle who broke up the middle. Robinson kicked his second conversion before being subbed in his final appearance. 

Carr had the last word as he scored against his former club after latching on to a kick on the last and the hooter sounded before McLocklan’s conversion to confirm Haven’s survival.

Match Facts

Haven: Chamberlain, Wilde, Holliday, Taylor, Calvert; Aiye, Gore; Beaumont, Coyle, Chapelhow, Parker, Hepi, Brooks. Subs: Newton, Robinson, Davies, Quinn.

Tries: Aiye 2, Newton, Calvert 2, Hepi, Chamberlain, Parker, Brooks.

Goals: Chamberlain 6/7, Robinson 2/2.

Doncaster: Carr, Doherty, Cowling, Welham, Fox; McLocklan, Wilkinson; Groat, Kesik, Spiers, Musolino, Foster, Emmett. Subs: Wright, Walton, Carbutt, Gilbey.

Tries: Doherty, Cowling, Foster, Carr.

Goals: McLocklan 3/4.

Half-time: 28-4.

Attendance: 589.

Penalties: 6-11.

Star man: Dion Aiye.