Lee Gaskell put in a stand out man of the match three try performance as Bradford swept past a struggling Whitehaven side. Most of the Bulls damage was done early on with the game looking over as a contest after the first quarter ending 24-0.
The Bulls looked powerful with ball in hand and went over in only their second attack of the game as winger James Clare went over for his effort in the third minute. This was followed Gaskell’s first followed by Jay Pitts scoring and Dale Ferguson crossing in the 20th minute. Danny Addy slotted over all four conversion and the match as a contest was done.
Despite that the white flag was not entering the thoughts of the home side just yet and were finally looking to come close for them without much success until the three minutes before the hooter as Jay Chapelhow went over after reacting to Richie Mathers knocking on a Grant Gore kick through to reduce the gap to 18 points at the break.
Haven continued their strong showing as the second half started and go the first try of the second half as Connor Holliday finished a well worked passing move which created an overlap on the right hand side. Holliday went over in the corner. John Paul Brocklebank’s conversion hit the the post and the gap stayed at 14 points.
That was a close as the Haven got to getting back into the game as the visitors then went and scored a further four unanswered tries with another two from Lee Gaskell (2), Adam O’Brien and a second for Jay Pitts, these tries came as Haven tired as the effort to try and match the Bulls as they went on their purple patch in the first half showed in the final 20 in the second half.
Speaking after the game both coaches spoke about the heavy pitch with Bulls coach James Lowes saying “The scoreline wasn’t a true reflection on the game, it’s always a tough game when up here in Cumbria and the pitch made it a bit more – it really slowed both sides down.”
Haven coach James Coyle could see a marginal improvement from his side’s game against Halifax the previous week but bemoaned about his side’s lack of training time as the Recreation Ground pitch is out of action during the week due to the damage done by the pre-season fixture against Workington. Coyle even suggested training may have to take place outside of the County.
Both sides continue their Saturday night fixtures next week as Haven welcome Featherstone Rovers and Bradford are on the road again as they travel to take on Swinton Lions
