Published at 11:54, Thursday, 05 April 2012

WHITEHAVEN will go in to the Good Friday derby against Workington Town in good spirits after enjoying a third successive win on Sunday.

Gateshead has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for Haven, though they have certainly enjoyed easier wins on Tyneside than this one.

Even coach Don Gailer thought it was an “ugly” win, though that’s taking nothing away from his players, who were made to battle all the way by a determined Thunder, led up front by Brett Waller, Jason Payne and Stephen Welton.

Gateshead showed their attacking intent in only the second minute, Scott McAvoy using his strength to hold up centre Mike Mitchell over the Haven line.

Two minutes later, the hosts turned defence in to attack after Craig Calvert was unable to gather Carl Rudd’s dab to the Thunder line.

Full-back Robin Peers gathered and went around 90 metres to score, shrugging off some weak attempted tackles along the way. Paul Stamp converted.

Haven finally started to find their feet after around 10 minutes, the lively Andreas Bauer making a half-break and Carl Sice kicking ahead for Max Wiper to chase, the ball bobbling over the sideline before the winger could take advantage.

Scrum-half Ben Karalius took matters in to his own hands on 16 minutes, breaking a couple of tackles on his way to the line.

Great work from Bauer set up Haven’s next try five minutes later. When tagged he found Karalius who put Wiper over the line.

Haven’s right-side attack was looking sharp, and Wiper almost added his second when collecting Karalius’s cross-field kick. But the lob had been slightly too deep and his momentum carried him over the dead ball line before he could touch down.

Instead, it was Gateshead who crossed on the next set, courtesy of Mitchell who struck out wide.

Haven finally hit the front on 30 minutes after Tabua Cakacaka fumbled Sice’s teasing kick 25 metres from his line.

Prop Richard Varkulis, who looks stronger with every game, pushed off a couple of defenders on the way to the line.

Peers had to be alert to a well-worked Haven set play early in the second-half, the full-back knocking the ball dead with Lee Doran bearing down on him.

Haven did not have long to wait before extending their lead. Luke Isakka picked up a loose Thunder pass 40 metres out and was dragged down 10 metres from the line.

Later in the set, the ball was moved quickly through hands for Calvert to profit out wide. An inability to stop Gateshead props Waller and Cacacaka off-loading led to Thunder’s next score.

Stamp was on hand to take a pass and he put Ryan Clarke between the sticks. Stamp’s conversion dragged his side back to only a four-point deficit.

On the next set, Haven were penalised and then marched back a further 10 metres for dissent. The set ended with stand-off Sam Walsh stepped inches from the Haven line.

Suddenly, it was all looking perilous for the Cumbrians. But Bauer, who has played as well as any for Haven over recent weeks, again stepped up. He crashed over in the corner amid heavy traffic on 63 minutes, Rudd’s third conversion making it 26-16.

Bauer then had to leave the field in pain, but he had done his job, and after good work from Sice and Isakka, Haven killed the contest on 72 minutes.

Calvert, who has looked stronger in the collision this term, used his extra power to barge over out wide, to his obvious delight.

Now 14 points down, Gateshead dominated the last five minutes, securing a couple of goal-line drop-outs, as they hunted a bonus point.

With 16 seconds left on the clock, Howard Hill was penalised for an infringement in the tackle and Clarke held his nerve to convert a very missable goal.

It was just what the hosts deserved.

Whitehaven: Bauer, Calvert, Fox, McAvoy, Wiper, Rudd, Karalius, Houghton, Sice, Hill, Haggerty, Doran, Beattie. Subs: Smith, Isakka, Cullnean, Varkulis

Tries: Karalius, Wiper, Varkulis, Calvert 2, Bauer; Goals: Rudd 3

Gateshead Thunder: Peers, Thackeray, Mitchell, Neilson, Brown, Walsh, Stamp, Welton, Hodgson, Weller, Barron, Payne, Steen. Subs: Clarke, Stoker, Cakacaka, Parker

Tries: Peers, Mitchell, Clarke; Goals: Stamp 2, Clarke 1

Referee: J Cobb

Attendance: 350 (est)

Star man: Andreas Bauer
 

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