Published at 11:12, Thursday, 05 July 2012

WHITEHAVEN’S season has been like the curate’s egg - good, bad and sometimes downright indifferent - but not for a moment would I describe it as ‘duck egg.’

Not when Haven after a shaky start are starting to look pretty safe bets for promotion.

However, knowing Haven as we do, nothing can be taken for granted. As I’ve said many times before, Whitehaven’s predictability is their unpredictably.

But it will take a fair fall from grace now for Haven to falter - failure now will be a case of some of getting out of town pretty sharpish.

No one with any rugby league pedigree wants to languish another season in Championship One left to trade blows with development area clubs watched by pitifully low crowds which is why you have to feel for the likes of Oldham and Rochdale.

But not sorry at the expense of Cumbria.

Fortunately Barrow Raiders, Workington and Whitehaven occupy three of the four - you wouldn’t put your money on Haven to actually take the title, but it could be a fair old scrap between current table toppers Barrow and Town.

Doncaster, however, will also have a say in matters.

Haven did their hopes a power of good by thrashing Oldham at home and at the same time just about demolishing The Roughyeds’ own promotion chances but still have to face Rochdale and Barrow away in quick succession before entertaining Doncaster, so there’s no real margin for error.

There won’t be another match now until the trip to Barrow on July 19 - the Craven Park clash has been brought forward as Premier Sports Thursday night live TV attraction.

Meanwhile plenty of time to take stock for some, rest and repercussion for others including Messrs Gailer and Barry Richardson.

Head honcho and club chief executive are heading off - with spouses- for a holiday break on the ocean wave - Mediterranean cruise.

One Jimmy Hill, the man who abolished the maximum £20 a week wage for footballers, always insisted that the relationship between the man at the helm and the man who coaches is paramount, and so it is with Gailer and Richardson pulling in such a strong direction on and off the field.

Bon voyage then to them especially with the comfort of a six-point cushion in the promotion race, for at the end of the day as we know results can make or break any relationship.

In his short tenure so far Don Gailer has had a few harsh words to say about some of his players - Aussie-speak! - but The Don seems to be getting things where he wants them.

As proud as punch by the emphatic victory over Oldham - he confided: “There have been rumours from outside the camp about rifts between players but inside it we know we’ve been strong from day one. It’s probably me being angry from time to time.”

I must say The Don was as happy as Larry when I met him in town this week before cruising off.

We expect Haven to continue on the crest of the wave when you return.

It’s also good to report the club has no financial problems. Having suffered the slings and arrows of administration, Haven can sympathise more than most with the plight of Super League Bradford (though for The Bulls it’s on a much higher and inexplicable scale),in particular fans and players, including one of our own - young James Donaldson from Cleator Moor.

But over at The Recre Whitehaven RLFC have turned things round pretty well. While gates in the lower tier have slumped, Barry Richardson tells me the club has budgeted shrewdly and is actually in the black.

Not often we’ve been able to say that over the years - so well done all concerned, though it’s still sad it takes administration to wipe slates clean.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk