Whitehaven failed to score in the second-half at York City Knights after being very much in the game at half-time.
The home side had led 18-12 – three tries to two – with two well-matched sides proving lively opponents.
But the Knights went on to register their fifth straight win with two more tries, and avenge a heavy defeat in the Challenge Cup at the LEL Arena with a 30-12 final score.
Haven had made a great start with a try on six minutes when Ryan King, rampaging forward, took a high pass before charging past the last defender for the score. Nikau Williams converted.
The visitors continued to shape up well and Guy Graham went close but was held up.
Jacob Hookem, released to play for Haven after originally been named in Hull FC’s 21 to play Catalan later in the day, knocked on when Whitehaven built another decent attack.
On 20 minutes Haven were penalised and a good kick took York to within 30 metres of the line. It proved enough as Will Jubb paved the way for Brendan O’Hagan to dummy his way over. Liam Harris converted to level the scores.
Within three minutes York had scored again through Levi Edwards and again Harris converted.
A forward pass from Dion Aiye, operating at stand-off, brought Haven back from a good attacking position.
But on 31 minutes Whitehaven were level. A little kick through over the York try line saw a number of pairs of hands scrabbling for it.
In the end the referee decided that Davy Litten had got the first downward touch and he was awarded his second try in as many games. Williams converted.
Five minutes before the break York were back in front. After good work by Jack Teanby and Matty Marsh it was Harris who went over and landed the conversion.
Seven minutes into the second-half it was Harris again who increased the York lead. From a scrum he skipped past one challenge and then took another tackler over the line with him. He landed the extras.
The hosts thought they had scored again a few minutes later when Edwards put Marsh in but the referee had spotted a knock-on.
In many ways the clinching try, York’s fifth of the game, came on 61 minutes when the Knights worked the ball to the right for James Glover to score. Harris nailed his fifth conversion.
Haven needed a score quickly and they almost got it on 67 minutes when both Jake Bradley and Liam Cooper were close to getting over.
Whitehaven gave as good as they got in the closing quarter but couldn’t get over again.
