Last updated at 11:01, Friday, 19 September 2008

THE Haven fans were in the loudest voice at The Willows last night - but play didn't go their way from the off. Spencer Miller opened the scorecard for Whitehaven, with second-half tries from Shackley and Adebesi beefing up the tally. Add your tributes here

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No grand final place, then - but no reason for Haven to hang their heads in shame either. And those fans who cheered the Haven heroes at the end of the match and the end of a stunning season will still have been singing all the back to Cumbria last night...

Haven were clearly jaded by the four-day turnaround from Sunday's triumph at Halifax and were disrupted early on by a shoulder injury to key man Tane Minihera. City Reds started red hot, catching Haven completely cold, running in four of their 11 tries in the first 16 minutes. The game was then all but over and Haven were left facing a 42-6 deficit by half-time. Salford hit peak form in a near-perfect performance and now play Celtic Crusaders in the grand final at Warrington a week on Sunday.

Haven coach Ged Stokes said he was proud of his players but lamented: "We found it extremely difficult mentally and physically."

Salford tries: Highton, Turner, Adamson, White, Myler, Gardner, Turner, Ratchford, Sibbitt, and two from former Haven forward Steve Bannister

Eight conversions by Wilshere, two misses.

Haven: Spencer Miller, converted Gregg McNally.
2nd: try. Mark Shackley - his first for the club - converted Gregg McNally.
3rd: Ade Adebesi, converted McNally, to cap another fine game in adversity.

Full report online later, and in today's News & Star

First published at 20:05, Thursday, 18 September 2008
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk