HUNSLET 16 WHITEHAVEN 18
JORDAN WEIR, South Leeds Stadium, Sunday

WHITEHAVEN’S march towards an unlikely play-off appearance continued with a dramatic victory as Hunslet stand-off Lee Gaskell was unable to land a penalty-goal after the hooter sounded.

The home side had hit back from a 18-0 deficit, scoring three tries in ten minutes after the Cumbrians established their advantage throughout the opening hour.

Whitehaven scored the first points after surviving an early onslaught. They got on the front foot after being allowed down the field through home ill-discipline before a perfectly-placed kick from dummy-half from Ellison Holgate enabled Ciaran Walker to score a try. Walker failed to add the extras in windy conditions, hitting a post.

Hunslet came back into the contest but made a number of mistakes which left their supporters exasperated.

Whitehaven extended their lead just before the break through a Walker penalty-goal after Jack Kellett was slowed down at the play-the-ball.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first with the visitors scoring early as a Kellett show-and-go enabled the halfback to crash over from short range. Walker converted for a 12-0 lead.

James Newton’s side may have been forgiven for thinking the points were secured just short of the hour when Brad Brennan crossed for their third try.

The opportunity arose unexpectedly from a Whitehaven drop-out. Jay Weatherill carried more than 50 metres with the wind at his back, the ball was allowed to bounce on the hard surface and couldn’t be kept in the field of play by Mo Agoro on his own ten-metre line. Whitehaven took advantage of the unexpected set with Brennan barging over from a Holgate offload. Walker tagged on the two for that 18-0 advantage.

However recovering the short kick-off, the home side responded with back-to-back tries.

Harrison Gilmore crossed in the 62nd and 66th minutes with carbon-copy scores as the secondrower got on the end of neatly-placed Lee Gaskell grubbers in behind the Whitehaven defenders. Dan Abram added both conversions.

Hunslet had an opportunity with eight minutes remaining. A Walker field-goal attempt fell wide of the left-hand post and the home side came away with a seven-tackle set.

Charlie Graham, who had earlier switched from fullback to centre, took advantage, touching the ball down after breaking down the right-hand edge, but Abram couldn’t improve, so his side trailed by two points.

Hunslet were twice held up over the line as they sought a winner, then the opportunity to level came when Ben Pearce was penalised for a high tackle. In the wind, the ball moved off the tee twice before Gaskell put the kick wide.

GAMESTAR: Forward Brad Brennan continues to be an important cog as Whitehaven continue their bid for the play-offs.

GAMEBREAKER: Lee Gaskell’s after-the-hooter penalty miss ensured the Cumbrians secured the third victory running.

MATCHFACTS

HUNSLET
27 Charlie Graham
5 Mo Agoro
18 Jimmy Watson
3 Myles Harrop
21 Mackenzie Turner
6 Lee Gaskell
7 Dan Abram
35 Jordan Baldwinson
37 Aiden Doolan
26 Ethan O’Hanlon
11 Harrison Gilmore
41 Brad Hey
13 Eddie Battye
Subs (all used)
14 Cam Berry
17 Kevin Larroyer
28 Anthony Walker
36 Sam Grice

Tries: Gilmore (62, 66), Graham (72)
Goals: Abram 2/3, Gaskell 0/1

WHITEHAVEN
7 Jack Newbegin
2 Mitchell Todd
11 Connor Holliday
4 Ethan Bickerdike
5 Jay Weatherill
6 Ciaran Walker
13 Jack Kellett
16 Brad Brennan
9 Ellison Holgate
24 Lewis Brown
12 Rio McQuistan
19 Ben Pearce
35 Jackson Smith
Subs (all used)
20 Marc Shackley
27 Woody Walker
31 Xenden Callander
32 Liam Williamson

Tries: C Walker (11), Kellett (45), Brennan (59)
Goals: C Walker 3/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 0-6; 0-12, 0-18, 6-18, 12-18, 16-18

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hunslet: Harrison Gilmore; Whitehaven: Ben Pearce

Penalty count: 6-8
Half-time: 0-6
Referee: Luke Bland