Whitehaven were beaten 34-24 in their Championship game at home to Toulouse in front of a paltry crowd.
It had been a fine first half performance from the Cumbrians who had established an 18-0 lead, but the French side scored just before half time.
That gave them a foothold in the game and in the second half they pulled level before Whitehaven nosed ahead again at 24-18.
Unfortunately for the home side they didn’t deal with the restart and Toulouse scored three quick tries to take the game away from them.
Whitehaven had taken the lead when Ajahni Wallace ran a great line to get over the line and Hanneghan added the conversion.
The hosts continued to force the pace and built up a spell of pressure which ended with Ryan King going over after a vintage show and go. Hanneghan converted.
Toulouse looked to be in trouble when Curtis Teare rounded off a fine handling move with a try in the corner and Hanneghan put over a fine conversion from the touchline.
It would have been a perfect half by the Cumbrians but almost right on half-time Toulouse produced some smart handling which ended with Peyroux scoring a try which Rivett converted.
For the second-half Toulouse opened-up with more zip and go about them and they quickly reduced the arrears when Dimitri Biscarro charged over the line for the try which Robin Brochon converted.
Within minutes it was all square when Dominique Peyroux got over for the try which was again improved by Brochon.
Somehow Whitehaven rallied and took the lead when Jake Maizen went in under the sticks and Hanneghan converted.
It didn’t take long for Toulouse to get back on terms again with Reubenn Rennie making the line for the try which Brochon converted.
Then the French were in again through Paul Ulberg, which went unconverted and finally Paulo Dallasta scored a sixth try which Brochon converted.
Whitehaven coach Jonty Gorley said: “It’s so frustrating because in the first half for 36 minutes we did everything right against a really good side.
“We should be winning games when we go 18-0 clear and it’s happened before.
“When they scored their second try in the second half you could see the life sucked out of them.
“We are certainly capable of beating these sides but we don’t help ourselves and against Toulouse it was because we couldn’t handle re-start kicks.”
Whitehaven suffered more injury woe when Edene Gebbie appears to have a ruptured hamstring which will require a scan confirmation.
