Last updated 00:00, Monday, 31 December 2007

Workington Town 0 Haven 48

THE gulf between the West Cumbrian rivals showed as the visitors ran in 10 unanswered tries against a Town outfit that just hasn’t got the strength in depth that Haven showed.

Workington were always going to start as massive underdogs and the late withdrawals of scrum-half Liam Campbell (knee) and Dexter Miller (flu) didn’t help their cause.

Add to that the unavailability of Town’s three close-season signings, Mark McCully, Ryan Benjafield and Iain Marsh from Rochdale Hornets, and the banned Shaun Lunt, and it was always going to be an uphill battle.

But let’s take nothing away from a Haven side, which was without several of their own stars, and that included several youngsters who had come through their Academy ranks.

They put in performances that suggested they had what it takes to make a name for themselves in National League One this season.

Mark Shackley and Chris Smith, both try-scorers, came away with a huge tick against their names and Carl Rudd, Scott Teare and Gary Broadbent all had massive games.

For new Town coach Dave Rotheram, it was an indication of what a tough task he has on his hands to mould Town into a team to challenge for NL2 honours this term.

And for Haven coach Paul Crarey, it was an indication that he has the tools and back up to challenge for NL1 honours.

Town looked good in the opening exchanges, preventing Broadbent and David Fatialofa from breaching their line.

And in the fifth minute, the hosts should have taken the lead.

Jason Mossop made a great break down the right and fed Carl Forber 20 metres out.

Forber charged towards the line but covering winger Craig Calvert managed to punch the ball away just before the Town stand-off grounded the ball.

And it was Calvert who got the scoreboard ticking in the 15th minute.

A Haven break down the left resulted in a high pass being fed out to the left and Calvert touched down in the corner.

Haven doubled their lead five minutes later in controversial fashion when Neil Frazer looked to have got downward pressure on the ball over the try line.

But the ball bounced free and Derry Eilbeck got there first to claim the try.

Referee Gareth Hewer consulted his assistant and awarded the try to give Haven an 8-0 lead.

Leroy Joe instigated Haven’s third try in the 24th minute as he drove close to the home line.

The ball was quickly spun out to the left for winger John Lebbon to squeeze in at the corner for 12-0.

Joe was again in the thick of the action minutes later, feeding the ball to Fatialofa, and only a crunching tackle by Mark Routledge prevented a certain try.

But Joe and Fatialofa again combined well to put Smith in from close range, Rudd goal his first of the afternoon for an 18-point advantage.

Town’s Matty Tunstall was yellow carded eight minutes from half-time for a trip deep in the Haven half, and Haven newcomer Adi Adebisi rounded off a fine flowing move in the 34th minute to go over in the corner.

Rudd added the two and Haven went in at the break well on top and with a 24-0 lead.

Town looked a bit livelier at the beginning of the second period, Scott Burgess, in for Liam Campbell, just failing to get a touch to his own grubber on the last tackle in the 44th minute.

Unforced errors cost Town dearly as they handed possession to their opponents twice early in the half, with Jamie Beaumont, Mossop and Taani Lavulavu all driving towards the Haven line before the ball was given away.

Forber’s break in the 55th minute almost created a score for Town as he fed skipper Beaumont, but Rob Jackson did well to thwart the danger.

And three tries in five minutes saw Haven restore their superiority, Lebbon, Shackley and Teare all touching down, Rudd adding two conversions as the visitors eased into a 40-0 lead.

With their backs to the wall, Town did well to hold out numerous Haven attacks but they did crack in the 70th minute when Spencer Miller sprinted clear to ease over.

And Town’s misery was completed in the dying seconds when Rob Jackson cut through a very tired defence to cross the whitewash.

It was one-way traffic for a majority of the game, Haven coach Paul Crarey delighted with his side’s performance. Rotheram now needs to take this result and improve in the five weeks before the regular season begins with the visit of another National One outfit Halifax, in the Northern Rail Cup.

Plusses for Town were the performances of Mossop, debutants Routledge and Scott Burgess, and the return of Ryan Campbell.

Attendance: 1,839