Easy!

By Dave Farrell
Date: 15/2/2001

They had to do it and they did....no small thanks to Man of the Match Leroy Joe. All eyes now on the Challenge Cup visit from world beating St Helens on the 25th. Now Haven can fill the coffers and keep building up our club from what has been a humbling start to the season.

Oh When The Saints!
Whitehaven progressed to the next stage of the Silk cut Challenge Cup with an emphatic win over Gateshead at the International Stadium.
The Cumbrians controlled the game from the start and scored two tries the first through Graeme Morton going over from close range after a pass from Leroy Joe. Winger Chris Campbell scored the other wide on the left after a midfield break by Dave Fatialofa supported by Leroy and David Seeds and vwith two goals from Steven Kirkbride, the Haven held a useful if not commanding 12-nil half time lead.
Paul Cullens instructions to his players was to keep the momentum going but to eliminate the forced passing that was squandering good attacking moves . Thats just what we got . A purple patch from the haven rigth after the resumption saw any hopes of Gateshead revival blown away as Whitehaven scored three trys through Leroy Joe and two from David Seeds to establish an unassailable 30 -nil lead .Further second half scores from Mark Jackson (two ) Andrew Nelson plus another two from David Seeds plus another 5 goals from Steven Kirkbride saw the Haven through to the next round where world Champions St Helens will visit the Recreation Ground on Sunday 25 th Feb.
Despite David Seeds four touchdowns , it was Leroy Joe who deservedly took the Silk Cut man of the match award .He was the key figure in all of havens offensive play aswell as scoring a try himself . However all credit to other 16 players on duty who turned in a very work manlike display on the night.
Four wins out of four now , a good example of continuous improvement , but that improvement will be severly tested in the round .