Whitehaven put up a gritty performance in a 22-12 defeat at Dewsbury, improving the defensive effort from the previous weeks.
Coach James Newton had been looking for a tighter defence and they were very much in the contest until the Rams scored the decisive try on 73 minutes.
Whitehaven had been the first to score on six minutes when hooker Ellison Holgate pounced after Danny Addy missed a grubber kick through.
Ciaran Walker added the conversion.
The lead was short-lived, however, for on 10 minutes the home side drew level.
Jacob Hookem, a former Whitehaven player, put in a low kick which held up over the try line for centre Bailey O’Connor to touchdown. Hookem converted.
Haven had to defend their line for long periods and were finally breached on 27 minutes when O’Connor went over for his second try.
Hookem converted and it remained 12-6 at the break despite late Haven pressure.
Nine minutes into the second half, a long pass out wide caught-out Haven for Tom Delaney to go in for the third try, again converted by Hookem.
But Whitehaven rallied and it was game on again after 54 minutes when a repeat set of six ended with Jordan Burns going in under the sticks.
Walker converted and at 18-12 they were right back in the game.
It stayed that way until seven minutes from the end when Dewsbury rounded off a strong attacking spell by moving the ball wide again for Delaney to score his second try, which went unconverted.
Hear James Newton’s verdict below:
