Relegation rivals Dewsbury were able to pull two points clear, while neighbours Workington Town had recorded only their second win hours beforehand to move to within four points.
There had been enough promise in defeat against Featherstone to suggest Whitehaven would rally over the second-half of the season but this latest defeat seemed to underline they have a tough fight on their hands to avoid the drop.
In a word Haven were dire in the first-half, devoid of craft and guile in attack and careless in defence, and probably turned round in worse shape than the 12-0 score-line indicated.
Within 16 minutes of the re-start Haven were level as the fans saw a different side bounce back to provide a bigger threat and looking capable of making the recovery complete.
But then it was the old Whitehaven as two tries in the space of 15 minutes restored Dewsbury’s 12-point lead and despite a third home try on 68 minutes, the Rams helped themselves to two late scores to run away with the game.
So it’s back to the drawing board for Whitehaven who face a long trip to London Broncos on Sunday with a mounting injury list to contend with – and a big Town derby on the horizon at the Blackpool weekend.
Whitehaven had fallen behind after only eight minutes after Widnes new boy Ryan Ince appeared to have made a brilliant saving tackle.
Dalton Grant intercepted a Louis Jouffret pass ten yards from his own line and went clear but Ince raced after him and just inside the Whitehaven ten brought him down.
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Unfortunately in the scramble that followed to smother a loose ball, Haven were penalised and were too easily breached. A quick tap and Dewsbury were in with second row forward Scott Hale getting the touchdown. Paul Sykes landed the first of his six conversions as he was accurate all night.
Whitehaven did get in some good attacking positions and at one point had three successive sets on the Rams line but there was little to suggest they had the know-how to get over.
Dropped passes, passes going straight into touch, wrong options – you name it and Whitehaven produced a first-half littered with them.
Inevitably Dewsbury scored again, crossing the home line three minutes before the break. A clever little kick from Andy Kain saw Sykes dart through to collect and dive over under the sticks – the extras a formality.
Whitehaven were much more competitive, direct and threatening after the re-start and set their platform from a successful 40-20 by James Newton.
Dion Aiye was just held-up and Craig Calvert almost scrambled over in the corner and eventually on 47 minutes they scored. The ball was moved cleanly from right to left and Aiye put Calvert in for the try which Jouffret converted.
The re-start kick wasn’t covered and bounced into touch, sparking a frantic Dewsbuy attack in which Sykes was held-up but then a glorious break-out by Jessie Joe Parker had Whitehaven on the front foot.
That counter didn’t quite bear fruit but the next one did on 56 minutes. Newton made the initial break, carried on by Aiye and finally Calvert put young centre partner Connor Holliday in for the try, again converted by Jouffret.
Whitehaven should have gone on from there but instead it was Dewsbury who responded well with tries on 58 and 63 minutes.
Shane Grady came inside on a good angle to make the line and then Sykes exploded through a gap to get over and at 24-12 Whitehaven had it to all to do again.
They just didn’t recapture that post interval zip, however, although Ince did celebrate his Whitehaven debut with a simple try on 68 minutes. The admirable Dave Allen had flung out a reverse pass and Parker gave Ince the easiest of finishes.
Haven gave away a penalty on 76 minutes and after Tony Tonks had been held by the post, full-back Josh Guzdek sliced through for another score.
The agony wasn’t over. In the last minute Parker dropped a pass which was picked-up and flung out to Grant who raced away to score and complete a grim night for Haven.
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