WHITEHAVEN 46 GOOLE VIKINGS 16
JORDAN WEIR, The Ortus REC, Sunday

WHITEHAVEN scored five second-half tries to seal a fourth successive home victory which had fans thinking about a possible play-off appearance.

The game got off to the perfect start for the hosts as Rio McQuistan was eventually the benefactor of a break down the middle by Jack Newbegin. He had options both sides and found Ciaran Walker on his right. While he looked to have lost the opportunity with the retreating Tom Halliday closing down his space, he was able to step around him before finding McQuistan. Walker converted.

However the halfback failed to add a further two points minutes later following a penalty awarded for a late tackle on Jack Kellett.

Goole hit back just after the quarter-hour mark with Liam Watts at the heart of the build-up play. He twisted his way out of the would-be defence before finding the offload to Mackenzie Harman. The ball was thrown over the top for Callum Shaw, who drove over.

Whitehaven soon hit back as the Vikings couldn’t complete the set after scoring their points. Ethan Bickerdike got his arm free when three defenders were wrapped around him, and offloaded for Jay Weatherill to cross and Walker to convert.

Walker then added a penalty-goal after Goole were offside, but the points gap at the break was only four as Josh Guzdek was the fastest to react to a kick in behind as the visitors recognised that fullback Newbegin was out of position. Jack Miller added the extras.

The second half started in similar vein to the first with the home side scoring in the early stages through Liam Williamson. An Ellison Holgate scoot brought open field and he broke through before finding Williamson on his right-hand shoulder. Walker converted.

Holgate turned from provider to scorer after a break down the left by Weatherill. The play had started earlier though with an offload from Brad Brennan to Walker, who found Ben Pearce. From his pass, Weatherill raced down his wing before kicking inside for Holgate to bounce off Tom Halliday. Walker added the goal for a 26-10 lead.

Goole hit back on 50 minutes with their best attacking set of the contest. Miller found Jeylan Hodgson, who darted and weaved his way through the attempted tackles to ground the ball. Miller added the conversion to reduce the deficit to ten points.

Whitehaven took any opportunity to keep the scoreboard ticking, and Walker kicked two penalty-goals.

Victory was secured with eleven minutes remaining as Weatherill dived on the end of a perfectly-placed Holgate kick over the top. Walker converted.

Whitehaven claimed two further tries to ice their victory.

Bickerdike produced some fancy footwork to pounce for four points before a training-ground move came off with Ben Pearce crashing over for Walker to add his ninth goal from eleven attempts.

GAMESTAR: Busy Whitehaven forward Brad Brennan helped lay the platform for victory.

GAMEBREAKER: Jay Weatherill’s second try with eleven minutes left sealed the deal for the hosts.

MATCHFACTS

WHITEHAVEN
7 Jack Newbegin
2 Mitchell Todd
11 Connor Holliday
4 Ethan Bickerdike
5 Jay Weatherill
6 Ciaran Walker
13 Jack Kellett
24 Lewis Brown
9 Ellison Holgate
16 Brad Brennan
12 Rio McQuistan
23 Ben Pearce
35 Jackson Smith
Subs
8 Jake Pearce (not used)
20 Marc Shackley
31 Xenden Callander
32 Liam Williamson

Tries: McQuistan (2), Weatherill (19, 69), Williamson (43), Holgate (47), Bickerdike (74), B Pearce (78)
Goals: C Walker 9/11

VIKINGS
1 Josh Guzdek
2 Tom Halliday
3 Cooper Howlett
4 Keenen Tomlinson
5 Callum Shaw
6 Mackenzie Harman
7 Jack Miller
30 Liam Watts
9 Jeylan Hodgson
10 Tyler Craig
11 Brett Ferres
12 Nick Staveley
13 Harry Aldous
Subs (all used)
22 Callum Rutland
24 Alex Holdstock
40 Tyler Walton
45 Jack Smith

Tries: Shaw (16), Guzdek (35), Hodgson (50)
Goals: Miller 2/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-4, 12-4, 14-4, 14-10; 20-10, 26-10, 26-16, 28-16, 30-16, 36-16, 40-16, 46-16

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Whitehaven: Brad Brennan; Vikings: Alex Holdstock

Penalty count: 10-4
Half-time: 14-10
Referee: Freddie Lincoln
Attendance: 620