Whitehaven 14 Oldham Roughyeds 6: The highlight of a fourth Whitehaven win in the Championship was a spectacular try from Craig Calvert to equal a club record established by David Seeds.

But the bedrock of the victory was a totally committed display from a Whitehaven side growing in confidence that they can cut it against the vast majority of sides in the competition.

James Coyle’s men had to earn their medals in defence during two particularly strong periods of Oldham pressure, but they also showed their ability with ball in hand to score two fine tries.

Oldham, who arrived at the Recreation Ground on the back of three successive victories – including a superb Challenge Cup victory at Hull KR - had clearly been instructed to take the game to their hosts in the forwards.

For lengthy spells it was a test of strength up-front which Whitehaven countered with relish and Oldham were never in a position where they felt the emphasis on forward power had given them control.

Yet when Whitehaven were able to cut loose, give the ball air and spread play they looked more than a match for the visitors – and so it actually proved with two smart handling moves leading to the tries which effectively won the game.

There were early positive signs for Whitehaven but when the commendable Dion Aiye made a telling break he fouled-up when trying to pass falling to the ground and the opportunity was lost.

It looked as though that could have been a costly let-off as Oldham went ahead on five minutes from their first sustained attack.

Lewis Palfrey, a former Whitehaven player, caught-out the home defence with a little kick for the corner where Jack Holmes had time to gather and go over for the opening try. Palfrey added the conversion.

Oldham, with prop Phil Joy and loose forward Will Hope getting through a mountain of work, had enjoyed a decent start and it took a little time for Whitehaven to counter.

Aiye and Glen Riley were both impressive in helping to lead the Haven response with Jesse Joe Parker and Liam Carberry beavering away in support.

The arrival of James Newton, as an early inter-change, also provided Whitehaven with a bit more industry and direction so that gradually they started to initiate possibilities.

The important breakthrough came on 22 minutes and was the result of some smart handling 30 yards out from the Oldham line. Grant Gore made the initial burst and Carberry and Parker were in support before Chris Taylor finished-off with the score. Jouffret’s conversion put the sides level.

There was more of a swing in Whitehaven’s step after that and they finished the half on top, but more importantly in front with a classic try on 36 minutes.

Again it was from some smart handling, which had its origin in the Whitehaven half, that saw the ball with Calvert just over the halfway line. He needed no further encouragement and only had one thought in mind, getting over the whitewash. Another ex-Whitehaven player Richard Lepori stood in his way but the winger cleverly side-stepped his challenge and completed the job with the touchdown behind the sticks. Jouffret added the extras.

In the second-half both sides went close to getting over the line but couldn’t quite manage it. Whitehaven did particularly well defending four successive sets on their own line before regaining possession.

Newton and Ryan Duffy were close for Whitehaven but the only extra points came from a penalty on 60 minutes from Jouffret.

They had another opportunity to take two points but instead went for a try, only to cough-up the ball on second tackle!

Oldham’s chances of staging a revival decreased on 70 minutes when they had Gary Middlehurst sent to the sin bin, and Whithaven were able to see it through for an important victory.

There was just on scare when Danny Grimshaw made a long, mazey run which threatened to go all the way but when he tried to off-load the excellent Ed Chamberlain was there to grab possession and start a counter attack.

Whitehaven: Chamberlain, Burns, Taylor, Holliday, Calvert, Gore, Jouffret, T. Chapelhow, Brocklebank, Riley, Parker, Aiye, Carberry. Subs (all used) Newton, Davies, J. Chapelhow, Duffy.

Oldham: Lepori, Clay, Grimshaw, Johnston, Holmes, Roper, Palfrey, Joy, Owen, Spencer, Middlehust, Langtree, Hope. Subs (all used): Ward, Burke, Thompson, Files.

Referee: Warren Turley

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