Last updated at 12:12, Thursday, 12 April 2012

TOWN came, they smashed – oh, how they smashed – and grabbed their just deserts. Hapless Haven were on the receiving end of another bad ‘carbon copy’ local derby defeat at the hands of the old enemy. This time it was a huge Easter embarrassment as Haven left the Recre field wearing Good Friday’s sackcloth and ashes.

New star signing Jessie Joe Parker, fresh off the plane from Papua New Guinea, must have been wondering what he’d let himself in for. And quite frankly the fans were asking ‘where do we go from here?’

Jessie Joe needn’t have been on the field. That’s how few chances he had to impress. Maybe this strapping Test centre needs to play stand off and Carl Rudd switched to scrum half. Haven’s attack was badly blunted due (again) to the total dominance of Town’s pack. One of the galling things was that every single member of Workington’s starting six have spent time with Whitehaven either in the first team or in the junior ranks.

So as Workington shot to the top of Championship One we were left scratching heads about Whitehaven’s own promotion hopes and how long it will take for the wounds to heal. Naturally the flak is flying. Questions are being asked and one of them is about Jessie Joe’s Test mate, stand off Glen Nami. Is he still coming – sadly it doesn’t look like it.

On Good Friday Town came out well on top both in physicality and ability.

So if ever a team needs a quick pick me up after the latest bitter pill it’s Haven.

Barring a minor miracle it’s not going to come when they meet Salford at home in Sunday’s Challenge Cup fourth-round tie. Don Gailer’s side must raise their game against Super League opposition. A vastly improved performance will at least bring part redemption and restore pride in wearing the chocolate blue and gold.

The Don was also scathing about his side’s failures against the Town.

He lamented: “It’s just not good enough. If I was in the middle I would be ashamed to put in that sort of performance... players have to look in the mirror and say ‘am I up to this grade?’

With the competition looking increasingly tougher, Haven can simply ill afford to be left playing on the back foot.

Don Gailer’s praise of Town – ‘they are an awesome side’ – is cold comfort to Whitehaven supporters. Gary Charlton’s ‘simple game plan’ worked perfectly in the Recre conditions. While naturally delighted to go top of the table it’s a place he’d rather be at the business end of the season. Just now Haven are not in a happy place, but it’s important to keep things in proportion. Things can change pretty quickly given a run of form

Up front – that’s Haven’s Achilles heel. If, as The Don points out, his side has talent in the backs it needs more pack firepower to unleash it. There’s talk of Whitehaven making a another Papua New Guinea capture – this time a prop – but until such time the directors succeed in beefing up the pack the present forwards will have to start punching above their weight when it matters.

Three of the Town forwards who helped inflict so much damage were in Haven’s first team pack not so long ago. All had points to prove and, boy, how they proved it.

Ryan (Ginger) McDonald is having a new lease of life in the twilight of his career, the relatively unheralded Marc Shackley, from Egremont, is making his mark at Derwent Park while Graeme Mattinson is slowly but surely getting back to the dynamic best of his Whitehaven career.

All the Town forwards are responding to the lead of ex-Great Britain forward Jamie Thackray – an inspired signing.

Gang tackling really rubbed Haven’s noses in to it. Once in the second half when Haven attacked towards the Kells End Lee Doran - talisman of the home pack – must have been pushed back a dozen yards. I thought then the game was up. But even though the game was won up front it was Town’s classy fullback Brett Carter – an excellent footballer – who was judged the outstanding individual.

And Marc Bainbridge didn’t have a bad game at halfback either – Oh, he’s a Haven cast off!

Some present Haven incumbents have points to prove mainly... ‘Are you good enough?’

First published at 11:58, Thursday, 12 April 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk