Last updated at 11:41, Monday, 21 May 2012

Oldham 16 Whitehaven 26: For all the talk of an injury crisis at Oldham, they still fielded a fairly strong side yesterday, which makes in-form Whitehaven’s win all the more impressive.

Whitehaven’s Craig Calvert chases down Miles Greenwood

Haven’s success was based on a strong work ethic, particularly in the first-half, when their defence was almost watertight and the hosts struggled to find a way through.

Even in the second-half, when the Roughyeds made it more of a contest, their two tries came from high kicks to the flanks, rather than as a result of damage done down the middle.

Three-quarters Max Wiper and Craig Calvert combined particularly well in the first-half on Haven’s left side, while Jessie Joe Parker was also a threat on the right.

And Dave Houghton was the pick of a hard-working pack in the middle, giving plenty of protection to Jamie Rooney, whose tactical kicking was again of a high order.

Hooker Sam Gee burrowed over from dummy-half to open Haven’s account on six minutes, Carl Rudd adding the extras.

Oldham looked to equalise after Calvert’s inside pass was intercepted by Lewis Reed. Gee got back to cover, but Haven had to defend a set on their line.

Loz Hamzat defused a kick to the corner though was bundled back behind his line. The Cumbrians forced a fumble from Miles Greenwood on the next set, though the impressive full-back was quickly back in to the action.

Fielding a kick deep in his own half he burst down the middle, Calvert showing terrific pace to hunt him down.

Parker then cut down winger Lucas Onyango in the shadow of Haven’s sticks, and the visitors were under heavy pressure.

Haven conceded two quick penalties before Rudd was forced back behind his line as he fielded a kick, prompting a goal-line drop-out. Another off-side decision followed and a try was inevitable, centre David Cookson reaching out from dummy-half.

Haven’s reply came on 26 minutes, Wiper showing too much strength for his marker, to score, on the back of a penalty. Rudd’s superb conversion put his side 12-4 up.

Rooney’s kicks were keeping Oldham on their toes, Parker held fractionally short after collecting one of his gentle dabs through the line.

On the next set Oldham fumbled, again in their own territory, Rooney this time throwing a shocking long pass from the scrum base that Hamzat struggled to hold above his head, and the ball sailed in to touch.

But Rooney soon made amends, another long pass putting Wiper on the outside of his marker and the centre’s fine short pass put Calvert in to space, the winger flying down the touchline to score. Another touchline conversion from Rudd made the score 18-4 at the break.

The opening spell of the second-half lacked the earlier intensity and it took Haven 14 minutes to register further points.

After Hamzat was held down following his break down the middle, Rooney slotted a penalty.

Calvert could have put the game out of sight after fielding a kick close to his line, Greenwood doing well to end his scintillating 80-metre burst by tacking him in to touch.

Instead, Oldham hit back with a try, Cookson scoring his second after Calvert slipped as he tried to field Graham Holroyd’s bomb.

Haven needed another try to be safe and it came on 72 minutes, Lee Doran offloading in the tackle close to the Oldham sticks and prop Dave Houghton proving unstoppable from close range. Rooney’s conversion put his team 26-10 up.

The hosts regained possession from Holroyd’s short re-start, and when Hamzat was unable to take the old maestro’s lofted ball to the corner, winger Mark Brocklehurst was on hand to touch down.

Lee Doran was held up over the Oldham line as the hooter sounded, ensuring the hosts earned a bonus point. But if Haven continue to play like this, they might be out of sight by the time their promotion rivals are back to full strength.

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

Tries: Gee, Wiper, Calvert, Houghton; Goals: Rudd 3, Rooney 2

Oldham: Greenwood, Onyango, Cookson, McCully, Brocklehurst, Holroyd, Dallimore, Boults, Clough, Tootill, Ward, Bentley, M Roden. Subs: Thompson, Whitmore, Reed, Gilchrist.

Tries: Cookson 2, Brocklehurst; Goals: Dallimore, Holroyd

Referee: Chris Leatherbarrow

Attendance: 624

Star man: Max Wiper

First published at 11:25, Monday, 21 May 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk