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Action pictures can be purchased from photographer Mike McKenzie
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Three front men downed in Action Black Sunday Derby ![]() This game saw abysmal playing conditions and the referee, Jamie Leahy, contriving to prevent either side getting into full flow. It was never a dirty encounter, not that you'd guess from looking at the penalty count, which finished 14-10 in Haven's favour, but Leahy seemed intent on strict discipline instead of letting the game flow. In the opening 20 minutes the scoreboard was never troubled, but Haven lost Lester and Howard Hill through injury, the latter returning in the second half after some treatment. Both sides were as committed as you'd expect in the most eagerly anticipated local derby for years, but for all the huff and puff there was little to get excited about. Even the sight of new signing Steve Trindall didn't have the home fans cheering for long as Dean Vaughan, a mainstay of the Haven pack for years before joining Town a season ago, sent him crashing to the canvass with a huge hit. Vaughan was one of a number of players in the visitor's line up who had been "let go" by Haven and they were all clearly intent on putting on a good show. The first real chance for some points came from on 24 minutes from one of that contingent, Lee Kiddie, who launched a high testing bomb for Steve Maden to deal with under a Town charge led by Lusi Sione. The Haven winger, playing in his first competitive game for the club, handled it superbly. Then on the half hour Graeme Mattinson, on a lot earlier than anticipated due to Lester's misfortune, made a superb run towards the visitors line but spilled the ball at the vital moment. But it wouldn't be long before the deadlock was broken, just four minutes in fact. Rob Jackson made a half beak and played a brilliant ball to Craig Calvert, who touched down in the corner. John Duffy's conversion attempt failed to leave the half time score at 4-0. That was the way it stayed for much of the second period, Kiddie was marshalling his troops well from the stand-off position without them ever really looking like getting back into the match. But Haven's expansive game was not suited to the conditions, and their pace out wide struggled to get any chance to make a clean break. It was time for the match winner to emerge and Gary Broadbent did just that, capping another fine all round performanc with an exceptional try to send the Kells End into raptures. Broadbent had a lot of work to do when he received the ball from Duffy on 59 minutes, but skipped through three tackles before touching down. This time Duffy landed the far simpler conversion and Haven were 10 points to the good. The only other incident of note was a good old fashioned scrap between Haven's Marc Jackson and Town debutant Shaun Lunt. Jackson spilled the ball under Lunt's challenge and then proceeded to give the former Castleford man a pasting, he was duly sent to the sin-bin but Lunt, who was also given 10 minutes to cool off, might have considered himself a little unfortunate. The hooter signalled the end of the game and a winning, if unconvincing start for Dave Rotheram, who said: "I loved it, it was a great atmosphere and a great crowd, it's just a shame that the game was not befitting of such a good attendance. "I think we dominated long periods of the game and defended well from start to finish, I always felt we were in control and the only time they looked like doing something was when we gave away stupid penalties. "It's a shame for Aaron, who is at the hospital having an x-ray, but if it is broken it gives Mattinson, who I thought was superb today, a chance to make the number nine jersey his own." Haven can take heart from a win against a spirited Town side, Oliver Wilkes showed up well and there were some touches of class from John Duffy, and although flyers like Maden, Calvert and Rob Jackson were never going to shine on a pitch like this they all defended well and did what they could going forward. For Town Alan McGuinness, Dean Vaughan and Taani Lavulavu were all huge in defence and Lusi Sione was a constant threat joining the line. On this evidence Workington will be major contenders in National League Two. Mattinson, Marc Jackson, Neil Baynes. Goal, Duffy 1/2 Sin Bin, Jackson (63) fighting. Lee Kiddie, Steven Kirkbride, Dean Vaughan, Shaun Lunt, Matt Tunstall, Dexter Miller, John Roper, Brett Smith. Subs (all used) Ryan Campbell, Waysal Sayman, Taani Lavulavu, Alan McGunniess. Lunt (63), fighting Progressive score 4-0, 10-0. Half time; 4-0. ![]() Haven 36 - Wigan 10 Pre-season friendly February 4 2006 ![]()
Great debut for new signings both from Leigh, Down Under and Home grown talent. Man of the Match was a talented move maker in form of John Duffy. Duffy then drove through the middle of the Wigan defence and O'Neil converted. Coach Rotheram seems to inspired a more open and fluid game plan that bodes well and although youth orientated the Wigan team did feature nine first team players. Whitehaven: Broadbent, Calvert, Seeds, Eilbeck, Maden, Rudd, Duffy, Baynes, Lester, Fatialofa, Wilkes, Hill, Miller. Subs: Walsh, Sice, Mattinson, McAvoy, M Jackson, Joe, Deans, D Smith, ONeil
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