Last updated at 13:17, Thursday, 09 August 2012

YOU get nothing for finishing fourth in the Olympics, but Haven will be delighted to finish just outside the medals in Championship One this term.

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They moved ever-closer on Sunday to cementing a top-four finish and promotion to the second tier at the expense of title-chasing Doncaster.

The visitors had their share of possession in promising areas but for the most part, for well over an hour, could do little with it, due to the home side’s outstanding defence, typified by winger Loz Hamat, who stood up well to the aerial bombardment aimed at him.

And when Haven were in dangerous areas, they had architect-in-chief Jamie Rooney on hand to hammer home their advantage. Plus the cutting edge of Carl Sice, who scored his side’s first two vital tries.

Haven showed their attacking intent in the opening moments, Jessie Joe Parker breaking 50 metres from deep when the ball was worked left.

The centre found Craig Calvert on his inside, though the winger was cut down five metres out.

Doncaster produced a forward pass in their own half on the next set, and when Parker was held down after breaking from the scrum-base, the visitors looked rattled.

The Yorkshiremen held on however and took the lead on eight minutes, winger Stewart Sanderson latching on to an angled kick to the corner, Paul Cooke converting.

The visitors continued to press, but a classy Haven break saw them go close at the other end. Lewis Palfrey raced on to Calvert’s inside ball, and when the cover closed in he hacked ahead for Rooney to chase, a defender just winning the chase.

Calvert was twice called to mop up at the back and did a great job on each occasion. The first came when Doncaster sub Nathan Powley was tackled behind Haven’s line and Calvert then collected Cooke’s dab.

The winger was collared behind his whitewash, but Rooney brilliantly found touch with the goal-line drop-out.

Scrum-half Craig Fawcett then tested Calvert with another kick, the Haven man this time weaving his way out of the danger zone.

Sub Sice had just joined the action when he danced through the Dons’ line on 31 minutes, Carl Rudd’s conversion ensuring Haven went in level at the break.

The hosts upped the tempo in the opening exchanges of the second-half, Sice steaming through at pace to take a dummy-half pass on 44 minutes to put his side in front.

Rudd’s conversion increased the lead, though Doncaster continued to press hard, with Parker particularly impressive in defence.

Cooke perhaps regretted targeting Hamzat after the winger took yet another high kick and then broke 45 metres downfield.

The set ended with Rooney slotting a drop goal to make it 13-6. With 19 minutes left on the clock, more points were likely, and the first of these came three minutes later. Parker collected Paul Cullnean’s great offload and his footwork took him past his marker to score.

Rooney’s conversion attempt hit a post, though he made no mistake moments later when Doncaster were penalised for ball-stealing and he added a two-pointer.

Given Haven’s outstanding tackling for almost 70 minutes, it must have been disappointing for them to see Mike Kelly break easily up the middle and feed the supporting Carl Hughes for a try.

Cooke’s conversion dragged the visitors back to within seven points, but Rooney brilliantly snatched away their momentum from the re-start, forcing the kick in to touch.

From the possession, Richard Varkulis took Sice’s dummy-half pass to spin over for another try, Rooney tagging on the extras.

Doncaster had the final say in the 75th minute, Hughes collecting Cooke’s short pass to score a converted try.

But another powerful second-half display, following their stellar show at Rochdale last week, ensured Haven stayed on track for promotion.

Match facts

Haven: Palfrey, Calvert, Wiper, Parker, Hamzat, Rooney, Rudd, Houghton, Hemingway, Cullnean, Varkulis, Wilson, Doran. Subs: Sice, Fox, Beattie, Haggerty.

Tries: Sice 2, Parker, Varkulis

Goals: Rudd 2, Rooney 2, plus one drop-goal

Doncaster: Waterman, Colton, Spurr, Cowling, Sanderson, Cooke, Fawcett, Castle, Kesik, O’Loughlin, Robinson, Kelly, Emmett. Subs: Powley, Hughes, Lawton, Spiers.

Tries: Sanderson, Hughes 2

Goals: Cooke 3

Attendance: 833

Referee: Warren Turley

Star Man: Carl Sice

First published at 11:10, Thursday, 09 August 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk