A LATE Rio Corkill try completed a Whitehaven comeback and gave them their first league victory since August ending the horrendous run of six consecutive losses which almost saw them relegated at the end of 2023.

The home side were 14 points down after the first quarter with tries from Andrew Badrock and Jayden Hatton but the Cumbrians dug in despite the pitch conditions to grab the victory.

The game didn't get off to the best of starts for the home side as they found themselves behind the sticks in just the second minute. Andrew Badrock the benefactor following a Noah Stephens break down the middle allowed the Lions 40 metres up the field.

In the next tackle, the ball was swung right and Badrock utilised the space left by a fractured Haven defence.

Former Haven favourite Dan Abram slotted over the extras. Abram soon added another two points to the visitors' advantage following the home side being penalised for a tip tackle. 

The game seemed potentially over as a contest in the 21st minute when Jayden Hatton crossed the whitewash at the end of four consecutive sets for the visitors following conceding back-to-back goal-line dropouts.

Haven's defence seemed to hold on until the last tackle on the fourth set when Will Evans jumped out of the defensive line and Hatton exploited the gap to touch down. Abram adding the extras from out wide. 

While Haven found themselves more than two scores behind they stepped up and dominated the remainder of the first half and were eventually rewarded for their hard work just minutes before halftime capitalising on back-to-back sets and Ryan King working hard close to the line to power over from short range. Jake Carter slotted the extras. 

The second half belonged to the Cumbrians as they rallied early doors and scored through James Newton.

King looked to have gone close to grabbing his second of the afternoon but was dragged short before hitting the ground was able to push the ball back and Newton reacted the quickest to collect the ball and dive over the line.

Carter tagged on the conversion to reduce the deficit to two points. That was extended minutes later as Dan Abram slotted over a penalty following a high tackle on Noah Stephens. 

Haven continued to battle forward but was denied by continuous stern defence from the visitors repelling the attack.

That was until the 69th minute. Jake Carter initially seemed to have taken the wrong option in going for the line himself with an overlap on the left-hand side.

He seemed to have been wrapped up but the half-back got his arm free and softly put the ball over the tap into the waiting hands of Rio Corkill to ground the ball to level the scores. 

Jake Carter had his hardest attempt of the afternoon coming from the left-hand side for the left-footer.

The half-back settled himself in the slippy conditions and converted from out wide despite slipping at the final minute to the roar of the Haven crowd behind him. 

The final action of the game saw four players see yellow as all 26 players were involved in a scuffle. Josh Eaves and George Roby for the Lions while Ryan King and James Newton were sent to the sin bin for the Cumbrians.

The game wasn't restarted following this as the hooter sounded as the side packed down for a scrum.