Whitehaven may be going down to League One but they ended their Championship season with a fine 23-20 win over Halifax.
It was a remarkable recovery by the Cumbrians as they had conceded three early tries to trail 16-0 but by half-time they were level.
Then in a tight second-half they edged in front, added a field goal and were still ahead at the final hooter for a terrific, morale-boosting victory after all that’s happened at the club.
Starring in the victory was Jack Kellett, the Hensingham skipper who was brought into the Whitehaven side for the first time by coach Kyle Amor who had complete faith in his ability to hack it at Championship level.
He didn’t score, but went close, and was a constant threat during his spell among the action.
When Louis Jouffret, the former Haven half-back, converted the third Halifax try to make it 16-0 it looked like a long, hard afternoon for the home side.
But the response to that early set-back was phenomenal as Will Evans started the recover with a try in the corner which Jake Carter converted.
Immediately they were in again, this time by Rio Corkill after he had taken a lovely pass from Lachlan Hanneghan. Carter converted.
When Edene Gebbie got in for the third Haven try there was a chance for Carter to give them the lead but a difficult conversion attempt from out wide was short.
But it meant Haven could go in at half-time all square and think about going on to win it – which they did.
After Kellett had just been held up short he put in a great break and his pass inside put Carter in for the try which gave Haven the lead for the first time. Carter’s conversion made it even better.
However, back came Halifax and James Woodburn–Hall completed his hat-trick but crucially the conversion was missed.
Whitehaven were put under strong pressure towards the end but they hung on doggedly and when they dids get a break out Hanneghan took the opportunity to land a field goal for a little bit of added insurance.
It wasn’t needed, however, as the final hooter signalled another remarkable effort by Haven to book-end Amor’s short stay as interim coach.
Afterwards he said: “I am really proud of the boys and how they’ve performed. I know we’re relegated but this was so encouraging.
“I was delighted with how Jack Kellett came in and performed. He looked as if he had been playing at this level for a while and I think that has been the highlight of my six weeks at the club.”
Here’s what Kyle Amor thought of the game:
