Ike Southward Memorial Trophy by Martin Morgan

Last updated at 09:49, Thursday, 06 January 2011

A DERBY defeat to Workington Town is never easy for Haven fans to swallow, but they at least know there is plenty more to come from their team after Monday’s clash.

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Haven could have profited from the attacking guile of Tane Manihera, especially on the Town line, where they found themselves many times, especially in the game’s third quarter, without being able to profit.

And Kurt Wilton’s defensive prowess would have been much appreciated against Town’s big pack, while it almost goes without saying that Howard Hill, Spencer Miller and Craig Calvert would also have proved their worth. All five should be fit again sooner rather than later.

New boys Paul Cullnean and Lewis Palfrey shone for Haven but it was Town who showed their potential in the opening moments when winger Neil Frazer had a try ruled out over a forward pass.

On their next set, Haven fumbled 30 metres from their line, and Brett Carter went close, again out wide, before being bundled in to touch.

Mike Whitehead made no mistake in the seventh minute to give Workington an early advantage.

Haven looked to reply immediately and forced a drop-out. David Ford fumbled the booming kick on half-way and Graeme Mattinson capitalised on solid work to nip over from dummy-half and double Town’s lead.

They crossed again on 15 minutes, Carter launching the move from deep and Elliott Miller hacking ahead for Scott Kaighan to complete a great try. Kaighan added the extras this time and it was 14-0.

It was looking grim for Haven, but the youngsters kept their heads up and were rewarded on the 19th minute, Palfrey lofting a ball for Loz Hamzat to score in the corner.

Palfrey added a superb conversion to reduce the deficit further.

The score added to Haven’s confidence and they started to play attractive rugby, with prop Cullnean, a former centre, sprightly in the middle.

One flowing move, from left flank to right, was a joy to watch, ending only when Hamzat’s inside ball to Chris Smith was adjudged forward.

Town started the second-half strongly, Jason Mossop crossing for a try, only for Whitehead’s scoring pass to be ruled forward.

Instead, it was Haven who seized their chance, Scott McAvoy releasing the ball in heavy traffic to Craig Benson who sprinted for the line.

Palfrey’s conversion put Haven within two points of their rivals and they started to exert heavy pressure on the Town line.

Carter produced a try-saving tackle on Richard Farrer who had charged on to Cullnean’s deft short pass.

Derry Eilbeck and Hamzat worked a great break from deep and Palfrey later put in a dangerous short kick for Danny Barker, the ball rolling dead before he could get a hand to it.

On 63 minutes, Town were rewarded for their sterling defence, Kaighan scoring his second try.

There was little to chose between the teams in the closing moments, with Ford held up over Town’s line and Jarrad Stack knocking on as he reached out of a tackle to touch down on the Haven whitewash.

Roll on February 6, when the rivals next meet at the Recre in their Northern Rail Cup opener.

With both likely to field stronger teams, it should be a stormer.

Match facts

Haven: Benson, Hamzat, Eilbeck, McAvoy, Cook, Palfrey, Rayson, Cullnean, Sice, Ford, S Fox, D Miller, Beattie. Subs: C Smith, Dalton, Farrer, R Fox, D Smith, Barker, Crellin.

Tries: Hamzat, Benson.

Goals: Palfrey 2.

Town: Carter, Miller, Mossop, Low, Frazer, Bainbridge, Kaighan, Coward, Mattinson, McGoff, Whitehead, Stack, Olstrum. Subs: MacDonald, Shackley, McKenna, Robinson, McAvoy, Dawes.

Tries: Whitehead, Mattinson, Kaighan 2.

Goals: Kaighan 2.

Referee: Warren Turley.

Attendance: 1,227.

Star Man: Paul Cullnean.

First published at 15:55, Wednesday, 05 January 2011
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk