Whitehaven RL's winning run ends in South Yorkshire

Whitehaven's winning run came to a shuddering halt after a third quarter that saw the home side score four tries in thirteen minutes.

After a nightmare journey and injuries took their toll, James Newton spoke post-match saying he may need to dip into the loan market ahead of Saturday's clash at Newcastle Thunder as Haven sweat on the fitness of Dave Eccleston & Jordan Burns. 

The contest started out even, with the visitors taking an early lead through the boot of Ciaran Walker following a ball steal from the Eagles. Haven sensed a similarly even contest to the sides previous two meetings at the start of the season as Walker slotted through the penalty goal from 20 metres out.

It was the home side who got the next scores, crashing over with back-to-back tries, the concession of penalties being the downfall for the Cumbrians. The first score saw the ball shifted from left to right, landing in the hands of Connor Bower who attacked the Haven defensive line before spinning out of the attempted tackle to ground the ball. Jordan Abdull failed to add the conversion.

It was only moments later when Kieran Gill was able to cross the whitewash after a further penalty spring boarded the home side up the field. Gill was able to utilise the space left by Connor Holliday who jumped out the defensive line but failed to execute the tackle, leaving space for Gill to touchdown. Abdull failed to add the extras on offer. 

Haven hit back with a try just moments later with Brad Brennan powering over from short range. The powerful forward proved too difficult to stop close to the try line after the home side gifted the Cumbrians a fresh set, knocking the ball to the ground while Haven were attacking the try line. Ciaran Walker slotted over the extras to reduce the deficit to just two points.

The afternoon heat continued to intensify as both sides introduced their benches, looking for the score that would give them a half time lead. The home side got their wish just five minutes before the break as the ball was too quick for Haven to recover after being shifted right to left before finding Billy Walkley to score his 19th of the season in as many games.

Kai Morgan took up the kicking duties and added the extras for an eight point advantage at the break. 

The second half saw a different story to the first with the Eagles running in five consecutive unanswered tries as Haven struggled to cope with the speed of the play from the home side. Former Super League top try scorer Greg Eden was on his home debut for the Eagles side and he was on the scoresheet as Haven couldn't cope with back to back sets from the home side.

Following this, Eden crossed the whitewash with Kai Morgan adding the extras. Minutes later it was back-to-back tries as the pace of Billy Walkley proved too difficult for the visitors to handle.

The winger sped down the wing before acrobatically finishing in the left hand side corner. The winger was forced to dive in the corner due to the chase and attempted tackle by Jordan Burns, but the Haven captain injured himself and was seeking treatment while Kai Morgan nailed the touchline conversion.

The full back attempted to battle on but Jordan Abdull was able to hit a 40/20 due to the lack of movement from Burns. The resulting set saw Lewis Peachey able to spin out of the attempted Haven tacklers to ground the ball under the sticks with Morgan remaining perfect with the boot. 

The Eagles continued to rack up the points as Josh Hodson and Josh Brown scores saw the advantage continue to grow. Hodson was the fastest to react on the end of a deft kick from Reiss Butterworth, with Josh Brown having a simple walk-in.

This came after Kai Morgan was hauled down short of the line before the ball was passed over the top of the single defender for Brown to score. Kai Morgan converted the first score before Abdull couldn't add the extras from the Brown score.

Haven did hit back with a consolation score in the 73rd minute as Ben Pearce was on the end of another Ciaran Walker kick to get a temporary respite. Walker added the extras.

The final score however fell to Greg Eden as the full back supported Billy Walkley when he broke through the middle. He then found the final pass to Eden before diving over the try line to grab his second of the afternoon. Abdull added the conversion from right in front of the sticks. 

SHEFFIELD EAGLES: 28 Greg Eden, 2 Joe Brown, 19 Will Oakes, 4 Kieran Gill, 5 Billy Walkley, 6 Kai Morgan, 27 Jordan Abdull, 16 Blake Broadbent, 9 Corey Johnson, 10 Martyn Reilly, 11 Connor Bower, 23 Alex Foster, 15 George Griffin. Subs: 3 Josh Hodson, 13 Jack Bussey, 14 Reiss Butterworth, 20 Lewis Peachey.

Tries: Bower (13), Gill (16), Walkley 2 (35,51), Eden 2 (48,78), Peachey (54), Hodson (61), Brown (67).

Goals: Abdull 2/4, Morgan 5/5.

WHITEHAVEN: 1 Jordan Burns, 19 Dave Eccleston, 2 Mitchell Todd, 4 Ethan Bickerdike, 5 Jay Weatherill, 6 Ciaran Walker, 7 Jack Newbegin, 24 Lewis Brown, 9 Ellison Holgate, 16 Brad Brennan, 11 Connor Holliday, 23 Ben Pearce, 13 Jack Kellett. Subs: 15 Ellis Nixon, 8 Jake Pearce, 12 Rio McQuistan, 35 Jackson Smith.

Tries: Brennan (21), B.Pearce (73).

Goals: Walker 3/3.

Attendance: 502.