By Martin Morgan

Published at 15:42, Wednesday, 11 August 2010

FANS were given a glimpse into Haven’s future on Sunday as around eight players unlikely to feature if their full-strength side had been available played against the Rams.

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The fact that only 504 spectators, Haven’s lowest home crowd of the year, turned out to watch them, must be a cause for concern in the boardroom.

It may have been a dead rubber as the Rams put paid to Haven’s Championship survival hopes with last week’s fine win at Leigh, though no-one apparently told a young Haven side who showed plenty of heart throughout.

But at this level they do not yet have the experience to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Dewsbury.

Graeme Mattinson and Scott McAvoy, as talented as any in the division, were exceptional for the hosts, while Aussie Dylan Skee revelled in the extra responsibility thrust on to him at half-back.

Of the younger brigade, wingers Jay Rossi and Loz Hamzat, Steven Fox and back-rower Bradd Crellin, on debut, showed up well.

And it was Rossi, just turned 17, who had the first gilt-edged chance of the game, bundled over the sideline as he dived for the corner.

Haven made the Rams fight hard and were not breached until the 15th minute, prop Keegan Hurst forcing his way over despite being covered by two defenders. Pat Walker notched the first of his eight conversions from as many attempts.

McAvoy denied pacey full-back James Craven with a fantastic tackle but the defence could do nothing to stop scrum-half Dominic Brambani on 27 minutes, the scrum-half darting from dummy-half.

Skee replied on 33 minutes, dummying to pass and then charging over, grounding the ball under heavy pressure.

A 12-4 scoreline at the break would have been a fair reflection, but two tries in the final three minutes of the half put paid to Haven’s hopes.

The first came from a scrum, with Craven out-pacing the cover, and Rossi then conceded a bizarre score after the hooter sounded.

Rather than hoofing dead a teasing kick behind his try-line he picked it up as the hooter blared. The youngster then possibly lost focus and stopped.

But the ball was still in play and second-row Rob Spicer simply dispossessed him and dropped down for a try.

Adam Robinson steamed on to Walker’s pass to extend the lead within three minutes of the re-start.

At 30-4 down, Haven produced one of their best tries of the season.

It was a terrific solo effort from Mattinson, the hooker bursting clear from dummy-half and sprinting 45 metres on a run to the line, Skee converting.

Dewsbury were starting to break tackles, though Haven scrambled well, Dexter Miller tracking back to take down Robinson as he headed for the whitewash.

The ball found its way to Rossi who showed his ability with a weaving 30-metre break out of defence.

Later in the set, the visitors were penalised for interference and Skee flighted a kick for Tyrone Dalton.

The scrum-half managed to take the ball in heavy traffic but was unable to ground it and the chance was gone.

Instead, it was the Yorkshire outfit next on the scoreboard, Bryn Powell breaking from deep on Haven’s left side and feeding fellow winger Austin Buchanan for the try.

Hurst and Brambani both added late tries under the posts before Walker had a touch down ruled out for an offside offence, giving Haven the consolation, such as it was, of keeping the Rams be-low the half-century mark.

Of more comfort for Haven fans were the performances of their youngsters, which augurs well for the longer term.

In the short run, however, it was another defeat with tough tests against Keighley and Batley still to come before they can wrap up a miserable season. The final whistle can’t come soon enough.

Haven: Eilbeck, Rossi, D Miller, McAvoy, Hamzat, Skee, Dalton, Thornley, Mattinson, Shackley, Hill, S Miller, Joe. Subs: Crellin, S Fox, Bower, Wilton.

Tries: Skee, Mattinson.

Goals: Skee 1.

Rams: Craven, Powell, Bretherton, Turner, Buchanan, Walker, Brambani, Hurst, Blake, England, Spicer, Lockwood, Barber. Subs: Stanton, Emmitt, Tonks, Robinson.

Tries: Hurst 2, Brambani 2, Craven, Spicer, Robinson, Buchanan.

Goals: Walker 8.

Referee: M Drizza.

Attendance: 504.

Star Man: Graeme Mattinson.

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