Whitehaven 46 Hunslet 10: The play-off charge is still in operation for Carl Forster and his Whitehaven side after a brilliant performance saw them defeat Hunslet.

A Jordan Burns hat-trick and Dion Aiye brace proved far too much for the visitors to handle.

The home side dominated much of the game with moves from out wide proving to be the main source of joy for Forster’s side.

Scott McAvoy opened the scoring with a brilliant break, leaving the visitor’s defence standing.

Jessie Joe Parker took advantage of a neat little kick from dummy half on the last tackle just minutes later for his touchdown.

Abram converted Parker’s try for a 10-point gap.

The visitors looked to have responded as Jack Lee dived over from dummy half in the corner but the official disallowed the solo effort for a double movement.

Burns grabbed the first of his three tries just before the break as he broke down the left-hand side and dummied the Hunslet full-back Watson for a marvellous opening score for him. Abram converted the effort for an 18 point lead at the break.

The visitors were the better side in the opening exchanges of the second half and were rewarded with their first points, Mufaro Mvududu’s finishing a very well-worked overlap.

A penalty goal extended Haven’s lead yet again before Aiye scored two tries in three minutes to take the game away from the visitors once and for all.

His first try was fortunate as he jumped on a mistake from the Hunslet side when they couldn’t defuse a last tackle kick and Aiye scooped up the ball and dove over the whitewash.

His second effort was a skilful finish as he stepped back inside and powered his way through the defensive line.

There was a small chance of a comeback as Daniel Grimshaw grounded a dropped Burns ball from a Cain Southernwood kick.

But two back-to-back tries from Burns to secure his hat-rick made sure there was no chance of that and the much-needed two points were staying in west Cumbria.

Arguably, the try of the game was the last one, as Joe Parker touched down after a Ste Roper kick to the corner was knocked by Burns. Parker took full advantage and touched down for his second of the afternoon.

There were several opportunities for Haven to score 50 for the second consecutive week but Ste Roper was brought down close to the Hunslet line as the hooter sounded and despite his offload he was ruled tackled.

Haven player-coach Forster said: “We executed the game plan and we stayed a bit boring.

"We’ve put ourselves in a position where we’ve got to rely on others but it’s in anyone hands. We’ve just got to look at ourselves, win our next two games and hopefully that gets us in the play-offs.”

Match Statistics

Haven: 14 Dan Abram 1 Jordan Burns 23 Jason Mossop 4 Jessie Joe Parker 5 Dave Thompson 29 Ste Roper 30 Callum Phillips 8 Marc Shackley 22 Stu Howarth 27 Jordan Thomson 31 Scott McAvoy 6 Dion AIye 10 Carl Forster

Subs 16 Kris Coward 26 Josh Eaves 18 Ellis Gillam 9 James Tilley

Hunslet: 1 James Watson 2 David Foggin-Johnston 3 Daniel Grimshaw 4 Mufaro Mvududu 23 Thomas Ashton 6 Jo Sanderson 7 Cain Southernwood 13 Matthew Nicholson 9 Jack Lee 10 Lewis Reed 12 Duane Straughier 33 Josh Tonks 15 Bradley Foster

Subs 37 Ryan Wright 11 Liam Mackay 8 Michael Haley 17 Nyle Flynn