GOOLE VIKINGS 40 WHITEHAVEN 10
JORDAN WEIR, Victoria Pleasure Grounds, Sunday

SIX first-half tries saw Goole progress safely to the quarter-finals of the 1895 Cup as Whitehaven were unable to repeat the heroics of the week before in a contest that was firmly over before the half-time break.

Both sides made changes from their encounter the week before as the Vikings welcomed stalwarts Liam Watts and Brett Ferres while Haven saw an opportunity to give a chance to those players who had seen limited game time so far in 2026. 

It was perfect start for the Vikings as they crossed just four minutes into the tie as halfback Shane Tuohey danced around the Cumbrian defenders before out-pacing full back Jay Weatherill to ground the ball underneath the sticks, allowing the returning Callum Rutland an easy opportunity to add the goal. 

The Vikings were emphatically the better side throughout the first half as they limited Whitehaven’s yardage and doubled their lead after 15 minutes as Connor Barley dived in at dummy-half before scooting over the try line.

Following a Lewis Brown knock-on the Vikings marched down the field and a Keelen Tomlinson offload found Halliday to ground the ball in the left-hand side corner. Callum Rutland slotted the ball through the middle of posts from out wide.

Progression was secured as Barley scored his second shortly followed by Ferres powering over on the left-hand edge as the home side were scoring at almost a point a minute leaving with Haven looking bamboozled. Rutland failed for the only time in attempting to convert Ferres’ four pointer.

However, the first half scoring wasn’t done as Tuohey scored the second of his two efforts with another dummy-half barge.

The second half was a much more even contest with Haven crossing in the early stages as Ben Pearce dived on a Ciaran Walker kick in behind, allowing the 19-year-old to score his first professional try after having been unlucky in the first weeks of the season. Walker failed to add the goal.

It took until the hour mark for the Vikings to get their first points of the second half when Brad Bullock ran from short range and targeted substitute hooker Josh Blinkhorn to attempt to cross the line. A wrestle ensured but referee Luke Bland stepped back and awarded the four pointer with some muted complaints from the visitors quickly waved away.

The final word of the contest came to the Cumbrians with a huge slice of fortune.

A kick in behind looked to be dealt with Ferres kicking the ball behind the dead-ball line. However, his attempted clearance saw the ball rocket into the protective padding on the right-hand post before heading right into the hands of Weatherill, with the fullback able to cross the line and Walker converting the score from just to the right of centre.

The Cumbrians also crossed the line in the final minutes of the contest through Mitchell Todd, but the final pass from Cole Walker-Taylor was ruled forward.

GAMESTAR: Connor Barley crossed for his first-half double and ran hard throughout the contest to help his side progress.

GAMEBREAKER: The fourth and fifth try of the first half came just four minutes apart, ensuring the game was over as a contest just after the half-hour mark.

MATCHFACTS

VIKINGS
5 Callum Shaw
2 Tom Halliday
4 Keenen Tomlinson
18 Connor Barley
19 Ben Hodder
20 Shane Tuohey
22 Callum Rutland
10 Tyler Craig
31 Will Jubb
30 Liam Watts
11 Brett Ferres
12 Nick Staveley
13 Harry Aldous
Subs (all used)
9 Jeylan Hodgson
23 Ben Dent
24 Alex Holdstock
25 Brad Bullock

Tries: Tuohey (4, 38), Barley (15, 27), Halliday (21), Ferres (31), Bullock (60)
Goals: Rutland 6/7

WHITEHAVEN
5 Jay Weatherill
19 Dave Eccleston
2 Mitchell Todd
4 Ethan Bickerdike
31 Xenden Callander
6 Ciaran Walker
18 Cole Walker-Taylor
16 Brad Brennan
32 Liam Williamson
20 Marc Shackley
15 Ellis Nixon
23 Ben Pearce
13 Jack Kellett
Subs (all used)
14 Josh Blinkhorn
24 Lewis Brown
27 Oliver Polec
35 Jackson Smith

Tries: B Pearce (45), Weatherill (70)
Goals: Walker 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 28-0, 34-0; 34-4, 40-4, 40-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Vikings: Connor Barley; Whitehaven: Ben Pearce

Penalty count: 5-6
Half-time: 34-0
Referee: Luke Bland