Whitehaven completed the double over South Wales Scorpions at the Recreation Ground in Cumbria but had to work harder for their win than at The Gnoll earlier in the year.
The last time the two sides met in April was when Whitehaven were resounding 34-0 winners. However since then the Scorpions have recruited well and just eight players from that defeat starred in Sunday’s 34-18 win.
Until half-time the Scorpions were more than in the game. Fighting back from 10-0 down, the Welsh went into half-time two points up.
But a try on the break, which is often considered to be the optimum time to score, lifted Whitehaven who scored 18 points without reply and put up a solid defensive effort.
The home side took an early lead on five minutes after Craig Calvert scored in the corner after catching a well weighted Carl Rudd cross-field kick. Rudd then added the extras.
The second try came ten minutes later. An outstanding 40-20 from former Scorpion Jamie Rooney landed a couple of metres from the try-line and Haven took full advantage from the scrum when Calvert scored his second in the corner. Rudd missed the kick on this occasion.
But Scorpions struck back straight away when James Greenwood raced under the sticks and Jamie Murphy converted before taking the lead from the next play when Tom Morgan used his strength to charge through the Haven defence. Murphy easily goaled again and within five minutes the home side went from being 10-0 up to 12-10 down.
And the visitors soon went 18-10 up as they continued their dominance of that period of the game. Ashley Bateman worked his way under the sticks and Murphy converted.
Steve Fox picked the ball up on his own 30 metre line, set up Calvert who ran 60 metres down the flank to score on the dot of half-time. Rudd did well to convert but Scorpions still went into the interval 18-16 down.
Rooney kicked his second 40-20 at the start of the second half and Haven were hopeful of a try to take the lead early in the period but Jessie Joe Parker’s offload was knocked on as they were close to the line.
Scorpions took advantage of the let-off and turned defence into attack as Loz Wildbore emulated the player he replaced by kicking a 40-20 of his own but again the attack fizzled out.
Steve Parry almost added to Scorpions lead but was stopped centimetres short of the line on the final tackle while Haven’s new signed from Widnes Antony Mullally was held up over the line.
But Haven regained the advantage on 51 minutes when Luke Isaaka set up Max Wiper who scored in the corner. Rudd missed the kick.
They extended it ten minutes later when Wiper made a clean break and scored his second in the corner. This time Rudd’s kick hit the post.
And any hope of a Scorpions win was denied from kick-off when Calvert broke through to score his fourth and Haven’s sixth. Rooney kicked the easy goal.
Scorpions did attempt tries back but were denied by Haven’s solid defence that continued to frustrate the determination of the Welshmen.
It went from bad to worse as Scorpions slipped out of bonus point territory when Rooney kicked two quick penalties to make the score 34-18.
Calvert almost got his fifth with three minutes remaining but stepped into touch just as was looking to ground.