Whitehaven 16-14 London Skolars

Whitehaven are in the hat for the fourth round draw of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup - but only just.

It wasn't the greatest of displays from Haven as they just hung on to claim a win against visiting London Skolars.

Skolars looked lively at times and it was only a resolute Haven defence that kept them at bay.

Haven looked as though they were lacking a cutting edge, as they had plenty of possession but the final touch was letting them down.

Dion Aiye showed some sparks and Dan Abram looked capable under the high ball filling in at full-back, in place of the injured Jordan Burns.

But, on the whole, they looked disorganised, something they will have to combat quickly before the League One season gets into full swing.

Whitehaven began well, putting pressure on the Skolars line, Chris Taylor battled hard, trying to get those first points but then a mistake from Karl Olstrom saw Haven lose the ball and Skolars came away with a scrum.

And it was London who put the first points on the board in the 13th minute as Michael Bishay slipped the pass to Jake Melling and he dived over the line but Jy-Mel Coleman missed the goal.

Whitehaven tried to strike back right away as they sat encamped on the Skolars line and the final kick from Callum Phillips had to be knocked out of play for a drop-out by Omari Caro.

They then forced a second drop-out but Lewis Reece, fresh on from the bench, was held up over the line.

London were enjoying some good field position but Phillips took back the advantage when he got hold of the ball and jinked his way through a sea of defenders before involving Dion Aiye and then Jason Mossop but he just couldn't hang on to the ball and another chance went begging.

Back came the Skolars and they were looking lively as Caro pinned Haven back on their own line with a neat kick.

This seemed to fire the home side up and they finally got back on level terms when Ellis Gillam crossed the whitewash but Phillips couldn't convert and the score was 4-4.

Aiye lifted the home crowd with a great break and he had men in support but a loose pass was penalised.

Then, down at the opposite end of the field, a neat kick from the Skolars forced a drop-out from Haven as half-time began to loom closer.

But some tough-tackling saved the day as they managed to bundle the attack into touch and relieve the pressure to go in at half-time all level.

The second half began with the Skolars on top and they got their second try in a virtual carbon copy of their first.

It was Bishay again who put boot to ball for the on-rushing Jake Melling to dive in and just get a touch over the line but the kick again went astray.

Haven had their chance when Dave Thompson danced his way clear and released Chris Taylor down the wing but he just went into touch with 20-metres to go.

Then, with just over 20 minutes to go, Haven took the lead for the first time in the game and they had Taylor and Phillips to thank.

Taylor made a great break down the right flank before Phillips cut diagonally through the defence to open them up.

Swift hands then followed out to the left-hand side where Dan Abram was on hand to finish off and touch down, with Brad Billsborough converting.

That gave Haven the impetus they needed and they extended that lead as James Tilley burrowed his way over the line and Billsborough again landed the two-pointer.

But then they let their visitors back in the game with some lapse defending that allowed Billy Driver to stroll over the line.

Skolars changed their kicker and Philip Lyons duly obliged with the goal to narrow Haven's lead to just two points.

Haven were feeling the pressure into the dying minutes and they tried to push over the line to widen the gap but were lacking imagination and Howarth was held up on the last.

As the hooter sounded, London were given a penalty on the halfway line and Samuel Nash positioned himself to take the kick but it fell short and Haven held on.