Whitehaven ended their losing run with a dramatic 16-14 victory over visitors Keighley Cougars.
The win at the Ortus Rec coincided with a Heritage Day and was witnessed by some of the club’s grand old stagers.
Ciaran Walker was the match-winner, scoring all of Haven’s points with a try, conversion and five penalties.
Although the home side led 12-8 at half time, Keighley’s third try three minutes into the second half was the only one they managed to convert.
Scoring three tries to one, and going into the last 10 minutes in front, Keighley will feel hard done to.
But Whitehaven battled strongly throughout after Walker’s early penalty, followed by his try and conversion on nine minutes gave them an 8-0.
Unconverted tries from Dylan Proud (19) and Ben Dean (26) gave the Cougars parity until Walker put over penalties after 30 and 34 minutes to send Haven in at the break with a 12-8 lead.
That changed early in the second half when Isaac Farrell got over for a Keighley try, converted by Will Groves.
It stayed like that, anybody’s game, until Walker levelled with a 73rd minute penalty.
In a tense finish Walker came up with the winning penalty a minute from the end.
