Whitehaven collected their first Betfred Championship win in a crucial home clash with Swinton Lions.
After a tight first-half which the Cumbrians just shaded 6-4 they pulled away in the second period and prevented Swinton from adding to their own tally.
Sam Freeman, switched to partner Jamie Doran at half-back, emerged as man of the match – and won praise from coach Jonty Gorley.
“We had Alex Bishop drop out on Friday and then Karl Dixon on Saturday so Sam was really third choice in the halves but he has gone in and done really well and given me a headache now over selection – but a good one,” said Gorley.
It was also a big return for hooker James Newton, selected for the first time in 351 days, and he played for the first 20 minutes at a time when Swinton saw a lot of the ball and were doing most of the pressing.
They had an opening score disallowed for offside but then did take the lead on 17 minutes when Andrew Badrock went in for an unconverted try. He charged over on the short side after the Lions had moved the ball smartly along the line and from the play-the-ball Badrock powered over.
Both teams had their moments after that although Swinton did look the more dangerous side.
However on 36 minutes Whitehaven played the ball just short of the try line and Chris Taylor went from acting-half, stepped and dived in to score. Freeman put over aa good conversion from wide-out to send Haven into the break 6-4 to the good.
It was Freeman who extended Whitehaven’s lead early in the second half when he darted over for his side’s second try which he converted.
When Swinton did enjoy periods of pressure on the home line the Haven defence stood up to it magnificently with some powerhouse work to keep them out.
On 62 minutes they were given a little more breathing space when opting to take a shot at goal when the Lions were penalised for a ball steal and Freeman made no mistake.
Freeman clinched the win for the home side on 70 minutes with an outrageous show-and-go to wrong-foot the Swinton defence. He added the conversion and finished with 16 of Haven’s points.
