Last updated at 10:39, Monday, 14 May 2012

JAMIE Rooney rolled back the years on his debut as Whitehaven swept passed an improving London Skolars side.

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The ex-England international scored two tries, including a fine solo effort, to show that he still has plenty to offer.

After a superb win in South Wales on their last outing, Haven continued to impress, even without key players such as Scott McAvoy, Chris Smith and Richard Varkulis.

Paul Cullnean, on securing his first start of the season after playing every previous match off the bench, was first on the scoresheet in the sixth minute. The prop steamrollered over two defenders off Rooney’s inside pass, Carl Rudd adding the first of his six goals.

Haven then went on to bag four successive penalties, Skolars being pegged for a string of ruck infringements, before Lee Doran powered over the line.

The momentum was checked from the re-start, however, Andreas Bauer knocking on as he gathered the kick.

Winger Ade Adebisi made use of limited space as he dived acrobatically to touch down in the corner. His ex-Haven team-mate Dylan Skee added a fine conversion.

Ref Matt Thomason lost patience with London on 18 minutes, sending second-row Michael Worrincy to the sin-bin for delaying Craig Calvert’s play-the-ball.

Haven had a stranglehold on the game, and on 25 minutes Bauer made amends for this earlier mistake, to continue his fine try-scoring run this term, credit also going to Ben Karalius for his excellent inside ball to the Kiwi.

Loz Hamzat almost ensured a glorious end to the half when he crossed in the closing stages, completing a fine cross-field move launched by Calvert on the opposite flank, only for the final pass from Jessie Joe Parker to be ruled forward by a touch judge.

The hosts got in to their stride on the first set of the second-half, Parker, who enjoyed his best performance yet for Haven, producing a great flick pass to put Hamzat in to space.

When full-back James Anthony closed in, the winger’s smart inside pass found Rooney in support and he crossed unopposed.

Haven continued where they left off in the first-half, in command, and they forced back-to-back drop-outs before a Rudd penalty pushed out the score to 26-6.

Carl Sice and London centre Dave Arnott were sin-binned for fighting on 51 minutes, and three minutes later, Haven crossed again. Rooney floated along the line before feeding Hamzat, who still had plenty to do when he took possession.

But he did it well, a combination of pace and footwork taking him around the cover to score.

At 30-6 Haven were coasting, but instead of pushing on, they lost a little impetus and London took advantage.

Brad Hopkins took Skee’s superb long pass to score on 58 minutes and eight minutes later, prop David Williams added another try.

Skee converted both and all of a sudden, Haven were conceding a few sloppy penalties .

Rooney got his side back on track on 68 minutes, his 40-20 kick putting London on the back foot. The former Super League ace then scythed through from the scrum base to score a fine try.

With just five minutes left, Haven second-row Andrew Beattie went down, players swiftly signalling for assistance. The Aussie was treated on the pitch before being stretchered off with a nasty gash just below his knee.

Skolars were quickly in to their stride after the re-start, fast hands putting Adebisi in at the corner.

There was a sudden urgency about Skolars, who in the closing moments broke from deep, Worrincy touching down and Skee goaling .

Haven: Bauer, Calvert, Wiper, Parker, Hamzat, Rooney, Karalius, Houghton, Gee, Cullnean, Beattie, Doran, Rudd. Subs: Sice, Isakka, Hill, Haggerty.

Tries: Cullnean, Doran, Bauer, Rooney 2, Hamzat

Goals: Rudd 6

Skolars: Anthony, Paxton, Price, Arnott, Adebisi, Ridley, Skee, Purslow, Thorman, Williams, Hopkins, Worrincy, Bate. Subs: Smith, Bloom, Mbu, Thomas.

Tries: Adebisi 2, Hopkins, Williams, Worrincy

Goals: Skee 4

Referee: Matt Thomason

Attendance: 627

Star Man: Jamie Rooney

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