Whitehaven went out of the Challenge Cup when they lost 32-4 at Championship rivals Halifax.
Although the Panthers were favourites on home soil to go through, coach Jonty Gorley would have expected to get closer to them.
They trailed 22-4 and although having plenty of pressure in the second-half were unable to cut the deficit and it was Halifax who scored the only tries of the half.
It earned Halifax a home tie with southern amateurs Hammersmith Hills Hoists in the fourth round.
The first quarter of the game proved decisive as Halifax led 22-0 by the 21st minute.
It was a front-foot start which put Halifax in charge and despite Haven’s best efforts after the break they couldn’t turn things round.
Halifax took the lead after only three minutes when they put together a pacey attack, and after Ben Crooks found a gap he had the supporting Joe Keyes to send over for the first try which former Haven half-back Louis Jouffret converted.
Three minutes later they were in again. This time Jouffret saw enough of a gap to go for it and was able to force his way over the line, before adding the conversion.
When Halifax scored again after 12 minutes it was looking ominous. This time it was Crooks who was put away to get in at the corner with the following conversion missed.
Whitehaven were having to defend in numbers and they couldn’t prevent a fourth try on 19 minutes.
This time it was Keyes who went for the line and took the last tackler over with him. Jouffret converted and at 22-0 the Panthere were well on their way to the fourth round.
Whitehaven hadn’t seen much ball but they finally got on the scoreboard after 29 minutes when Curtis Teare got away to score in the corner but Jake Carter couldn’t convert.
It stayed 22-4 until half-time and in fact that was the score right through to the 75th minute with Haven seeing more possession.
They had spells on the Halifax line but couldn’t make them count and on 67 minutes had Ryan King sin-binned.
During his absence Halifax put the game safe when Crooks went in for his second try and Jouffret put over a touchline conversion.
Two minutes from the end Halifax completed the scoring when James Saltonstall followed-up a kick and gathered to get the ball down for an unconverted try.
