WHITEHAVEN 34 SWINTON LIONS 24
JORDAN WEIR, The Ortus REC, Sunday

IT WAS a painful first return to West Cumbria for Anthony Murray, as his Swinton side conceded two late tries to fall to defeat as Whitehaven prevailed in a topsy-turvy encounter in the scorching Cumbrian conditions. 

Murray was returning to Whitehaven for the first time after his shock departure at the start of March and he watched his side take an early advantage with Josh Eaves crossing the line against his former side from a pass by Louie Roberts, who had breached the Haven defence.

And it was back-to-back tries for the Lions just minutes later as Jordan Brown was too much for the Haven defence to handle close to the line as he crossed for his fifth of the season. Tom Ratchford took on the kicking duties after a knock picked up by Jordy Gibson, who was withdrawn at half-time.

That was the wake-up call for Haven with a Jack Kellett ball-steal in the middle of the field before Ben Pearce was once again on the end of a Ciaran Walker kick close to the line to grab his fifth try of the season.

Walker soon turned from provider to scorer as he broke through to reduce the deficit to just two points with an unconverted try.

And two more tries late on in the first half gave Haven a half-time advantage.

Jay Weatherill’s try saw a leaping diving effort in the left-hand side corner to escape the attempted tackle from Harry Higham, before a barnstorming Jackson Smith run from a goal-line dropout saw the young forward break down the middle of the field and slice through the Lions’ defence like a hot knife through butter before finding the supporting Ellison Holgate, who touched the ball down under the sticks untouched. Walker added both conversions for a ten-point half-time advantage. 

The second half was evenly if untidily contested before Gav Rodden took advantage of loose defending from Whitehaven to cross the line. Tom Ratchford reduced the deficit to just four points.

And with just 15 minutes to go Rodden broke through again with a diagonal run before touching the ball down under the sticks. Ratchford converted to establish a two-point advantage for the Lions heading into the final stages. 

But Whitehaven grabbed the victory with two tries in the final four minutes.

The match winner came from Holgate as he was the fastest to react from a fumble from his own deft kick close to the try line to grab his second of the afternoon.

Swinton attempted to go short from the restart but the kick-off went out on the full and from the resulting set Jack Kellett was able to sidestep his way through before finding Liam Williamson in support. Walker once again added the goal to secure a third straight home victory for Whitehaven.

GAMESTAR: Ethan Bickerdike stepped up on his 100th career appearance, leading his side to victory. 

GAMEBREAKER: Ellison Holgate’s late score secured the two points for Haven in sweltering conditions.

MATCHFACTS

WHITEHAVEN
7 Jack Newbegin
2 Mitchell Todd
1 Jordan Burns
4 Ethan Bickerdike
5 Jay Weatherill
6 Ciaran Walker
13 Jack Kellett
8 Jake Pearce
9 Ellison Holgate
16 Brad Brennan
11 Connor Holliday
23 Ben Pearce
12 Rio McQuistan
Subs (all used)
24 Lewis Brown
27 Woody Walker
32 Liam Williamson
35 Jackson Smith

Tries: B Pearce (20), C Walker (29), Weatherill (36), Holgate (40, 76), Williamson (79)
Goals: C Walker 5/6

LIONS
1 Louie Roberts
5 Harry Higham
20 Adam Jones
3 Ellis Anderson
34 Patrick Ah Van
36 Jordy Gibson
21 Tom Ratchford
22 Jordan Brown
9 Josh Eaves
10 Ben Killan
11 Gav Rodden
12 Aaron Willis
32 Kalum Rathbone
Subs (all used)
17 Trent Kelly-Duffy
18 Bobby Shingler
28 Leo Wadsworth
38 Mike Porter

Tries: Eaves (8), Brown (13), Rodden (49, 65)
Goals: Gibson 1/1, Ratchford 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 6-12, 10-12, 16-12, 22-12; 22-18, 22-24, 28-24, 34-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of The Match
Whitehaven: Ethan Bickerdike; Lions: Gav Rodden

Penalty count: 5-6
Half-time: 22-12
Referee: Carl Hughes
Attendance: 660