rugby league By Martin Morgan

Last updated 11:39, Wednesday, 14 May 2008

BATLEY will feel a big backlash from Whitehaven on Sunday after they were hit for a century at Wigan, warned boss Ged Stokes.

The 106-8 Challenge Cup defeat on Monday night was Haven’s heaviest in their 60-year history, eclipsing the 98-4 reverse at Wigan in 2000.

But Stokes refuses to judge his part-timers on their performance against the Super League giants.

“I don’t normally make predictions, but I know we will bounce back at Batley,” Stokes said.

“We’ll make up for it at Batley, and if we don’t there isn’t the character in this side that I think there is.

“The players feel embarrassed by being beaten by that score, but we have to put it behind us, and I’m sure our supporters will have put it behind them.

“We had some tremendous performances. Graeme Mattinson played for 80 minutes and gave it everything, and so did Spencer Miller.

“Ade Adebisi was absolutely outstanding. He was the best winger on the field – and that’s a big call – while Gary Broadbent’s defence was unbelievable. I will back my players 100 per cent on that performance to make amends, not that I feel we have to.

“You can’t take the result out of context. You’ll never see a team from the National Leagues win the Challenge Cup. They won’t even reach the last-eight unless they get a good draw. That’s the cold, harsh reality.

“Half of our squad had been at work on the morning of the game and were then expected to come out with something good. We had no answer to Wigan’s speed, power, strength and skill. It was always going to be difficult, and it’s over and done with now.”

Wigan travel to Leeds in the quarter-finals.