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Highlights 2002
Haven Immortals

Whitehaven RL
Recreation Ground
Coach Rd
Tel 01946 692915

Fax 01946 695805

Travel for away fixtures contact Steve Shepherd Tel. 07740867495.

Action pictures can be purchased from photographer Mike McKenzie

Seeds in at the kill as Gatehead beaten February 27 2005 Whitehaven 42, Gateshead 12 Haven entertained Gateshead Thunder on a dry,cool but sunny afternoon and for the second week running turned in a workmanlike performance to run out easy winner , though in fairness to the visitors they look a much improved team this season. Haven got off to the best possible starts and after only two minutes Leroy Joe fed Craig Calvert for the first score of the game , converted by Penny. Haven 6 Gateshead 0. Haven kept up the early pressure and after 10 minutes Leroy Joe got his first try of the afternoon after David fatialofa had run a penalty close to the visitors line . Conversion missed by Penny Haven 10 Gateshead 0 Haven then extended their lead further as Leroy bagged his second - the result of some neat interpassing between him and David Seeds close to the line. Conversion by Penny. As hinted Gateshead are a differant proposition this year, evidence their win at Barrow. They certainly were not afraid to move the ball, and could have scored a try through centre Barnes had he not dropped a pass after finding a hole in the Haven Defence. A few minutes later their enterprise was rewarded with a try to Liddell the result of some slick passing.They also added a penalty to make the score 16-6. But with half time approaching Leroy capped a fine first half display by putting a deft grubber into the in goal area for David Seeds to touch down to mark his 300th appearance with a try. Haven 20 Gateshead 6 Haven started the second period in a positive fashion after 46 minutes John Lebbon scored at the corner. The conversion missed .We kept up the presure and with 54 minutes gone Howard Hill powered his way over for a try. Penny coverts this one and it was Haven 30 Gateshead 6 Gateshead showing resilience came back to score a good try through Brown which was converted But it was Haven who finished the stronger with a try to John Lebbon showing great awareness and determination close to the line , Penny converts . Then with 10 minutes remaining haven final try was set up by Summers who exhibited excellent ball handling skills to feed the supporting Paul Davidson to score wide out Penny converts. The official man of the match Leroy Joe- his best display for some time, before a gate of 1412 .All in all not a bad days work though still lots of room for further improvement from a Haven squad that starting to put the Derewent Park nightmare behind them. The game also saw three of Wath Brow Hornets’ most exciting youngsters from last year coming together in the pro ranks for the first time. Craig Calvert and Derry Eilbeck, who have already made their first-team mark, were joined by Carl Rudd, whose professional debut had been delayed by knee reconstruction surgery last summer. Haven's long serving centre David Seeds made his landmark 300th appearance for the club in the game. Seeds, the Recre’s record try-scorer with over 180 touch downs, joined the club in the 1993/94 season, from Kells amateurs. Coach Steve McCormack paid tribute to the 30-year-old’s massive contribution to the club. “David has a full-time job and a family, and to play 300 games when not a full-time player is a superb achievement ,He deserves all the accolades he gets. He never settles for second best and has given his all. “David trains hard and always puts his body on the line. He’s a great example.” Tries from Calvert, Seeds, Lebbon, Davidson, Joe (2) and Hill.