Gregg McNally is emerging as a potentially even bigger star than he appeared to be last season.

The Whitehaven youngster, who has been loaned back to the club by Huddersfield Giants, picked-up the man of the match award after the 42-18 home win over Gateshead on Sunday.

McNally, seen alongside receiving his man of the match award from Bill Anderton of the club's main sponsor NMP , grabbed a hat-trick of tries and finished the game with 26 points as he landed seven out of eight shots at goal.

It capped a welcome opening win in the Championship for Ged Stokes’ men after they had lost the Challenge Cup tie at Gateshead a week earlier.

The only downside for the Recreation Ground club was a disappointing crowd of 1,175 for the first League clash of the new season at a time when the new board is looking to encourage more and more people through the turnstiles.

At half-time Whitehaven had led 16-6 after they had conceded the opening points on only four minutes.

Thunder must have been highly encouraged to take the lead, after last week’s good Cup win, when Neil Thorman took advantage of an error by Craig Calvert. Michael Knowles added the conversion.

It took eight minutes for Whitehaven to draw level. A well times pass put on Derry Eilbeck for a simple try which McNally improved.

Both Thorman and Calvert, involved in that opening Gateshead try one way or another, both left the field with injuries and were not seen again in the game.

Karl Long, on trial with Haven after expressing a wish to switch codes again, had an outstanding debut for the Cumbrians when he came on as a replacement.

It was his quick play-the-ball which set up the try on 27 minutes which pushed Haven ahead. Jamie Theoharus and Spencer Miller linked cleverly to put McNally in for the try which he improved himself.

Whitehaven were now warming to the task and after Dylan Nash, the Gateshead centre had been sin-binned for holding down, they scored again.

Substitute Kyle Amor ran strongly to create the space for Theoharus and he in turn found McNally in support to score. It was the only try he failed to convert.

Within 40 seconds of the restart he had completed his hat-trick. Once again it was Theoharus doing the spade-work with a half break which created the chance.

When McNally became provider, with a peach of a pass to send Eilbeck in for his second try, and Amor went in as well the Cumbrians had a 34-6 lead and the game in their pockets.

Or had they? Questions were being asked, certainly on the terraces, when Gateshead scored twice in four minutes to peg it back. Ben McAlpine squeezed over and then Knowles intercepted a pass from Joe to go 30 metres for the try. Knowles converted both.

But the last try of the game, on 64 minutes, saw Whitehaven score it top wrap-up the points.

It was a smashing try from Ade Adebisi who dashed infield and as the space opened-up he straightened and raced clear for the score.

MAL WALKER was the man at the Recreation Ground to take the action shots - in descending order - Greg McNally and Ade Adebisi scoring tries and trialist Karl Long in action.

    Mal's prints can be bought at £25 for an A4 framed and £40 for an A3 framed. Prints only are £10 A4 and £15 A3.

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