Whitehaven were denied a win in their opening warm-up fixture at Widnes as the Vikings scored two tries in the last three minutes to earn a 22-22 draw.
Even so it was a satisfying first performance for Jonty Gorley’s men ahead of next Sunday’s keenly anticipated Ike Southward Memorial game.
Town had also played at Widnes a week earlier and had been beaten 46-0, but as a form guide that is likely to go out the window when the two square up for the derby clash on Sunday at the Fibrus Community Stadium.
The Cumbrians were never behind and looked the likely winners until Tom Gilmore squeezed over on 78 minutes and then Harvey Wilson went in under the posts in the last minute. The two Gilmore conversions completed the draw.
Haven had started the game positively and took the lead on 14 minutes with a debut try from Jack Maizen which Jake Carter converted.
Eight minutes later Will Evans celebrated his return to Whitehaven colours when he crossed for the second try, which was again converted by Carter.
Widnes finally got some momentum going and reduced the arrears on 26 minutes with an unconverted try from Mike Butt.
It stayed at 12-4 until half-time and six minutes into the second half the Vikings cut the deficit when Matty Fozard slid over for a try which Kieran Dixon converted.
When they lost the ball Widnes conceded from the subsequent Haven attack on 55 minutes with Carter going in for a try which he converted himself.
When Joe Romeo scored Haven’s fourth try on 68 minutes to give the Cumbrians a 22-10 lead it looked as though they were going to go on and complete the win.
But they had Rio Corkhill sin-binned and with 12 men they couldn’t see it through and those two late converted tries for the Vikings earned them the draw.
