Whitehaven clinched their own Championship safety with a 40-20 win over London Broncos at the LEL Arena.
How much better to do it themselves instead of having to rely on rivals Dewsbury slipping-up in their match tomorrow with Batley.
Although they have looked safe over the last weeks or so with matches dwindling away this comfortable win over the in-form Broncos left it mathematically certain now they will retain their Championship status.
The Broncos should actually have taken the lead but Wellington Albert dropped the ball crossing the line and they paid the price when Whitehaven went in front on 12 minutes with a try from Josh Martin, converted by Nikau Williams.
Dion Aiye evaded a tackle and then a perfect off-load put Martin over for the touchdown.
The hosts got away with one on 18 minutes as there appeared to be a clear knock-on but play went on and Curtis Teare went in for the try which Williams converted.
Whitehaven had Karl Olstrom sin-binned for a late tackle and then Broncos, who had been on the back-foot, suddenly got a new lease of life and qu8ickly made the man advantage count with their first try. Ilies Macani got over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Whitehaven then piled on the pressure and London were really stretched to keep them out. The third home try came on the 37th minute when a kick from Aiye bounced awkwardly and it was Williams who collected and scored. Williams converted for an 18-4 half-time lead.
London needed a response after a mainly indifferent first half and they got it within six minutes. Callum Gahan broke and had support from Alex Walket who just managed to get over the line and Leyland converted.
Whitehaven did well to restrict London’s follow-up pressure and gradually regained the ascendency with Marcus Walker kicking through the middle and getting on the end of it. Williams converted.
After 67 minutes Whitehaven scored again when Will Evans held off a couple of tackles to score and the Williams conversion made it 30-10.
Seven minutes from time London got over again with Leyland adding the conversion to Albert’s try and they closed the gap soon afterwards when Macani went in for his second try but Leyland missed the kick.
In a big finish Whitehaven scored two more tries. Aiye went over and added the conversion and right on the hooter Williams scored the final try as Haven celebrated their safety after doing it themselves.
