Player-coach Carl Forster expressed his delight after Whitehaven’s 36-4 win over Keighley Cougars.

Haven effectively secured the win in the first half as they moved into a 20-0 lead at the Recreation Ground.

The Cougars, previously unbeaten in five games and coming into this fixture on the back of an impressive draw against leaders Toronto Wolfpack, did finally break down Whitehaven’s defence to score after the restart.

Forster himself scored a try in the second half to ensure the result was never in doubt after the half-time break.

“I was most impressed with our defence,” Forster said.

“After conceding 30 points last week which is not like us, we got into Keighley in the first minute.

“I think we bullied them off the field. They have got a physical pack and we managed to open their pack and get into them.”

A superb solo effort from Dave Thompson ensured the Cumbrians held a considerable advantage at the end of the first period.

Forster said: “We knew we needed to stay in an arm-wrestle. It was pretty like-for-like from the first game we played against them.

“We knew, if we kept putting pressure on, they would crack first. I thought we were good in the first half.

“We got through our sets and completed. Even though we were not completing how we wanted to complete in terms of percentages, I thought we made them come up with the yardage.

“Dave came up with that solo effort. It just took a little bit of sting out of them.”

But Forster was still keen for the team to up their completion rate after the restart.

He said: “I think we completed 70 per cent in the first half. We actually dropped to 55.

“Even though the win was convincing, I think we just need to learn when that last pass isn’t on.

“But we will learn from it and we put a scoreline on them, completing 60-65 per cent over the game.”

Haven will now have a short break before travelling to face Toronto Wolfpack in Canada next month.

Report: Page 33