Whitehaven rounded off their season with a 40-24 home win against Newcastle Thunder.
Winger Andrew Bulman had scored a hat-trick of tries in the first half an hour which helped Haven into a 30-0 lead at the break.
It had looked a cakewalk from there but Newcastle upped their game and after scoring their first try early in the second half they added three more in the last four minutes.
Whitehaven had clearly targeted a perceived weakness on the right-hand side of the Newcastle defence and were able to exploit it with all Bulman’s tries similar in creation and completion.
It’s been a tough season for Whitehaven but they have ended it strongly with wins over Bradford, London, neighbours Workington and now Newcastle.
Injuries held back Jonty Gorley’s side for three quarters of the season but they have been able to pick-up the pace in the last month or so.
Haven had scored on seven minutes when Scott Teare set up Bulman to score his first.
It was Bulman again 10 minutes later when he got on the end of a kick through which popped-up conveniently for him to gather.
Full-back Luke Broadbent was next to cross as Whitehaven stepped up the pressure before Bulman completed his hat-trick.
Dion Aiye and Josh Martin added further tries for Whitehaven to complete an outstanding first-half. Nikau Williams converted three of the tries.
But there was a different approach from both sides on the resumption.
Newcastle were able to throw the ball around profitably as Whitehaven were slow to raise their game again. Thunder were first to score when Gideon Boafo got away to score and Craig Mullen added the extras.
It was Australian forward Ryan King who got Haven back on the board after a patient set when he barged over for his 14th try of the season.
That settled Haven after their indifferent start to the half and Guy Graham was next to cross when he surged over for his side’s eighth try. Williams added the conversion.
It had been a better second-half from Newcastle and near the end they were able to get in for three back-to-back tries.
After two quick sets Ta’ai shot through for a try four minutes from time. Mullen converted.
Then remarkably they broke to score again through Josh Eaves with Haven claiming a forward pass in the build-up.
Haven were rocked again when Alex Donaghy raced away for the final score of the game. Mullen added the conversion.
