Whitehaven 10, Dewsbury Rams 48

Whitehaven are in danger of collecting the Championship wooden spoon on their way down to Rugby League’s professional basement.

If they lose at Keighley on Sunday they will be bottom of the pile with only one game remaining, at home to Batley.

Sunday’s clash at the Recreation Ground had been seen as a possible crunch battle to see who stayed-up this year. But that was weeks ago, since when the west Cumbrians have lost all their games and have already been condemned to relegation whilst the Rams have survived.

Just over 500 witnessed Whitehaven’s latest reversal, although they did see a spirited effort for the most part from their favourites.

But the task facing the club is immense as coach Ged Stokes and his chairman Dick Raaz consider how they can re-build the playing squad; improve finances and build bridges with supporters disillusioned by events of the past few months.

The number of youngsters in the Whitehaven line-up against the Rams is hardly likely to diminish next year as Stokes and Raaz will have to put their trust in youth for the foreseeable future.

Encouragingly they have one or two individuals who will be able to step up to the plate as they gave 100% commitment to the cause, alongside the established and experienced campaigners like Leroy Joe and Howard Hill.

Five members of the senior squad had declined the pay cut measures brought in by the board, so were not selected and are unlikely to feature in a Whitehaven shirt again.

Dewsbury might have been stretched by a full-strength Whitehaven team of last season, but they were comfortable winners – albeit having to see-off a spirited effort by the current Recreation Ground youngsters.

The Rams had opened up a 12-0 lead, with tries from Keegan Hirst and man of the match Dominic Brambani, both converted by Pat Walker.

But on 32 minutes Whitehaven gained some reward for their efforts when Dylan Skee dummied and twisted his way over from close range, but missed a fairly straightforward conversion.

If Whitehaven could have steadied themselves and gone in at half-time trailing by just eight points, there would have been an interesting period right after the break. But the naivety of the youngsters showed as they conceded two tries inside two minutes right ahead of the hooter.

Mistakes by two of the rookies, Loz Hamzet and Jay Rossi handed Dewsbury tries by James Craven and Rob Spicer which Walker converted and at 24-4 Stokes’ team-talk was of a different nature.

Three minutes into the second half and it became 30-4 when Adam Robinson scored from close in.

Graeme Mattinson was again Whitehaven’s best, as he has been for most of the season, and on 46 minutes he scored a brilliant solo try, going from acting-half-back just inside his own half. Skee converted.

But it couldn’t spark a Whitehaven revival and in the last quarter of an hour Dewsbury added further tries by Austin Buchanan, Hirst and Brambani all converted by Walker.

The end of the season can’t come soon enough for Whitehaven  but despite suggestions that the club is heading for administration, taking a points penalty this season instead of next, officials insist that isn’t the case. Every effort will be made to keep them out of administration.

Whitehaven: Eilbeck, Hamzet, D. Miller, McAvoy, Rossi, Dalton, Skee, Shackley, Mattinson, Thornley, S. Miller, Hill, Joe. Subs (all used) Crellin, S. Fox, Bower, Wilton.

Referee: Mohammed Drizza

Crowd: 504

Our man at the Recreation Ground was MAL WALKER who snapped Dylan Skee going over for the first Whitehaven try; second try scorer and man of the match Graeme Mattinson on a typical run and Marc Shackley in the thick of things.

Mal's prints can 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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