Whitehaven 12 London Broncos 16: A gritty display against the full-timers of London Broncos just wasn’t quite good enough to eke out a precious win for Whitehaven.

Deservedly ahead 12-4 at the break, Whitehaven eventually succumbed to two converted tries in the final quarter of the game.

If the west Cumbrians could just have been a bit more patient at crucial times instead of pressing the panic button, there were tries to be had, against a London side who rarely showed why they are lying second in the table.

Whitehaven played with a lot of spirit and commitment, particularly in the first-half, and London certainly knew they had been in a contest by the final hooter.

Injuries and the non-availability of dual registration players had reduced Whitehaven to virtually the bare 17, so it was a particularly game effort to run the former Super league side so close. Especially when there were occasions when they seemed to get a raw deal from rookie Championship referee Tom Grant.

London had travelled on Saturday and stayed overnight at St. Bees, and when they scored after only five minutes, they clearly looked up for it and meant business. Whitehaven were breached rather too easily by the wily William Barthau who darted over from short range. Wes Naiqama hit the post with the conversion attempt.

But any thoughts they might be in for a stroll in west Cumbria were forgotten after 11 minutes when Whitehaven went in front.

Craig Calvert had just failed to pick up a poor pass and get over when Whithven maintained the pressure and Connor Holliday did really well to stride past two tackles and make the line. Louis Jouffret put over a fine touchline conversion.

Whitehaven were asking questions with ball in hand and when they had to were showing great resolve in defence. It was a good team effort and was to get better before half-time when they increased their lead.

Dion Aiye put in a clever, low kick for the corner and Calvert celebrated his 300th appearance for the club by getting in ahead of full-back Elliott Kear to make the touchdown. Again Jouffret was accurate from wide out.

Reaction:   Whitehaven just lose out to London Broncos

Much of the same in the second half would have done Haven proud but the home side did not quite reach the same heights in attack, although they defended stubbornly until fatigue against a full-time outfit, started to show in the closing stages.

John Paul Brocklebank, who was making a highly encouraging return at hooker, was inches short of scrambling over for a try and Stephen Fox was equally close but was stopped by a blatant head tackle which went unpunished.

But in a big finish London scored the tries they needed to snatch the win. The first on 61 minutes, from their best player Barthau, ws scored a bit too easily from Whitehaven’s point of view as he strode untouched through the line. Naiqama’s conversion went in off the post to cut the deficit to two points.

The crucial, match-winning try came five minutes later when forward power got Nick Slyney over the line and Naiqama nailed the extras from in front of the posts.

Whitehaven had their opportunities in the closing stages but twice the ball went to ground in good positions, and the victory which could so easily have been theirs, eluded them.

Whitehaven: Jouffret, Burns, Taylor, Holliday, Calvert, Aiye, Gore, Riley, Brocklebank, Beaumont, Allen, Parker, Carberry. Subs (all used): Fox, Duffy, McAvoy, Davies.

London Broncos: Kear, Williams, Hellewell, Naiqama, Macani, Bussey, Barthau, Slyney, Cunningham, Ioane, Harrison, Foster, Magrin. Subs (all used): Ackers, Garside, Offerdahl, Battye.

Referee: Tom Grant

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