Whitehaven were swept aside by a second-half fightback from hosts Halifax Panthers as the Cumbrians went down 38-18 in a Championship game played at Wakefield.
It had looked very promising for Jonty Gorley’s men at half-time as they had dominated the game up to that point, full value for their 14-6 lead.
But the Panthers scored 32 unanswered points after the break before Haven added a late consolation try, a disappointing ending to what had started so promisingly.
Haven had taken the lead after eight minutes with a penalty from Jake Carter after Guy Graham had been caught by a high shot.
Whitehaven were controlling the game and they scored the first try on 14 minutes. A quick tap, and a neat little grubber kick from Ryan King was reached by Lachlan Hanneghan, making a late plunge for the ball. Carter converted.
The visitors deservedly extended their lead on 23 minutes with a second for Lachlan Hanneghan who threw a dummy before spinning out of a tackle to force his way over from close range. Carter converted and 14-0 was certainly a reflection on how the game had started.
It could have been even better because Halifax were reduced to 12 men on 25 minutes when Ben Kavanagh was sin-binned but despite heavy pressure Whitehaven couldn’t add to their lead.
There was a big chance on the half hour mark but with the line at his mercy Gideon Boafo knocked-on to let Halifax off the hook.
It was Halifax who added the final points of the half on 31 minutes when a good break-out and a kick in behind bounced nicely for Joe Keyes to collect and score. Louis Jouffret converted and those points were certainly needed by the Panthers before the break.
When Halifax scored five minutes into the second half it was clear that Whitehaven were back in a fight and their early domination had not earned enough points.
A Jouffret pass was floated out to Ben Tibbs who did well to step inside and force himself over for the try which Jouffret converted.
’Halifax got themselves in front for the first time on 49 minutes when a kick on last tackle was tapped back for Charlie Graham to collect and go over. Jouffret converted for 18-14.
It had been quite a momentum swing in the game and Halifax were in no mood to let it change again. Four minutes later Graham was in again as he used sheer brute strength to get over the Haven line but Jouffret had his first miss.
With Halifax on top now the error count in the Whitehaven ranks was rising and on 59 minutes Matty Gee rounded-off a fine handling move to go in again with Jouffret converting.
Whitehaven were second best by this stage and there were further tries from Jouffret and Ed Barber, one of them converted by the French half-back before Haven scored the final try of the game through Rio Corkill but Carter couldn’t convert.
