Bulldogs put the bite on dismal Haven

Martin Morgan reports from the Recre

Last updated 16:26, Tuesday, 25 March 2008

Whitehaven 6 Batley 19: A snowstorm hit yesterday’s game but the Recre was no winter wonderland for Haven who slumped to one of their worst home defeats for years.

No way through: Howard Hill is held by the Batley line

They had been strongly fancied to bounce back from Good Friday’s disappointing opening NL1 defeat on the road against promoted Featherstone.

But they were even worse against the Bulldogs, a pale shadow of the team that had beaten Halifax eight days earlier.

In the first-half they were poor in every aspect of play. Their defence was wafer-thin and they offered little invention when within striking distance of the Bulldogs’ line. But worst of all, they seemed to lack enthusiasm.

A couple of players did okay. Skipper Gary Broadbent played his part and prop David Fatialofa could never be accused of playing below par.

Craig Calvert tracked back to make a couple of vital tackles and fellow winger Ade Adebisi was enthusiastic. But they were exceptions.

You had to feel sorry for new coach Paul Crarey. He had a fine record in his two years in charge at Barrow, and I’m told the Haven players like and respect him.

But he lost his key playmaker John Duffy to Widnes a few weeks ago and could not have envisaged the cash crisis that would hit the club in the New Year.

The uncertainty over the club’s future may not have helped on-field performances.

But the worst of the club’s financial woes should now be behind it, and there are grounds for optimism on that score.

So yesterday’s defeat against a side Haven have routinely beaten over the past four or five years is a real worry.

Much tougher tests lie ahead, and it is essential that the squad steps up to the plate, or this could be a very long season.

Even given their dismal effort, they still bombed a couple of gilt-edged chances that could have turned it around.

And they conceded only one point in the second-half. But by then, the match was lost.

The writing was on the wall after five minutes when Batley full-back Ian Preece fed winger Bolu Fogborun who crossed out wide.

Haven scrum-half Liam Finch’s round-the-corner pass to Spencer Miller deserved a try, but solid defence kept the hosts at bay.

On the next set, Batley prop Luke Stenchion broke from his own half and fed Francis Maloney.

Calvert sprinted across but the veteran stand-off had the momentum to touch down at the Kells End. Kevin King added the extras.

Haven could have hit back when Carl Rudd’s long pass created space, but Rob Jackson was unable to hold on to Adebisi’s return pass, with the line beckoning.

Big sub Anthony Henderson bombed on to a short pass on 25 minutes to cross for Batley’s third try. King’s kick made the score 16-0.

Broadbent saved his team moments later, ending sub Mark Toohey’s run after the defence had again melted away.

Centre Danny Maun was next to break the line in his own half, with Calvert again tracking back to retrieve the situation.

But Haven were caught offside and King slotted the penalty to give his team a scarcely-believable 18-point lead at the interval.

The hosts were much-improved early in the second-half. Preece was forced to knock dead Rudd’s chip with Carl Sice bearing down.

And good hands from Howard Hill and Derry Eilbeck then saw Calvert sprint clear for a try from 40-metres out.

An awful forward pass from Fogborun on a kick-return 10 metres out handed Haven another great chance.

From the resulting scrum, Rudd produced a perfect kick for Finch, but he bounced the ball as he tried to touch it down.

Haven simply could not find the key to unlocking the Batley defence, despite the best efforts of Fatialofa and Leroy Joe, who was increasingly influential in the later stages.

The final indignity came late on, Maloney’s drop-goal denying Haven even a bonus point.

Though it was perhaps a case of justice being done. They did not deserve to take anything out of the game – other than the lesson that a less than total effort sends you home a loser.

With a trip to Widnes on Sunday, it’s a lesson they must learn. Quickly.

Match Facts

Haven: Broadbent, Calvert, R Jackson, Eilbeck, Adebisi, Joe, Finch, McDonald, Mattinson, Fatialofa, Miller, Fletcher, Rudd. Subs: Sice, McAvoy, Edmondson, Hill

Try: Calvert

Goal: Rudd

Batley: Preece, Stokes, King, Maun, Fogborun, Maloney, Mennell, Stenchion, Lythe, Smith, Crouthers, Spears, Lindsay. Subs: Jarrett, Simpson, Henderson, Toohey

Tries: Fogborun, Maloney, Henderson

Goals: King 3, Maloney drop-goal

Referee: Jamie Leahy

Attendance: 1,230

Star Man: David Fatialofa