NEWCASTLE THUNDER 14 - 20 WHITEHAVEN RLFC

A half without a score proved costly for Newcastle Thunder on Sunday afternoon, as they fell to a 14-20 loss against Whitehaven in the Betfred Championship.

Leading 14-6 at the break, Thunder struggled to fire in the second half with a high penalty count and key individual errors contributing to an ultimately narrow defeat.

Their cause wasn’t helped by losing playmaker Jake Shorrocks to a head knock late in the first half, but it was an disappointing end to a big day with a crowd of over 1,500.

Whitehaven assumed an early lead after a pair of early penalties provided them with an easy shot at goal, but Thunder were attacking well with their shape causing problems for the Cumbrian defence.

Going close through Jay Chapelhow, Thunder took the lead on 15 minutes as Tongan international Ukuma Ta’ai crashed through from close range, with Josh Woods successful conversion making it the full six points.

Woods’ passing game laid on Newcastle’s second score four minutes later, as he played in centre Kieran Gill for his eleventh score of the season as Thunder drew open the Whitehaven defence.

Having gone close following a powerful carry from fullback Alex Donaghy, the hosts moved the play to the centre of the field with Woods then exploiting the gap on the next tackle to give his team-mate an easy walk-in.

Looking for their third minutes later, a penalty for dissent after a contentious knock-on call gave the Cumbrians the platform they needed to hit back, with Lachlan Walmsley the player to score.

Starting from half-way, Whitehaven attacked at pace and prevented Thunder from winning the rucks, with a flowing move rounded off by the Australian for an unconverted score.

A last-minute penalty at the end of the half allowed Newcastle to take their lead to a two-score advantage, but it was the visitors who enjoyed the better start to the second forty.

They made that count 12 minutes in with a converted try for Karl Dixon and regained the lead just after the hour mark as Andrew Bulman went over for a try out wide.

Crucially the conversion effort was wide, leaving Thunder just four points in arrears with the best part of a quarter of the game to get themselves back in front.

Despite working a number of promising breaks that gave excellent field position, Newcastle were unable to finish them with half-offloads failing to go to hand, or volleyed kicks going straight into the visitors’ defence.

With the result very much in the balance a 75min penalty again saw Whitehaven take the kick at goal, ensuring that Newcastle would need a pair of scores in the final five minutes to seal the result.

Thunder threw everything into their attacks in the closing stages, but were unable to work the score that they needed, allowing the Cumbrians to take their first ever win at Kingston Park Stadium.

Newcastle Thunder

Alex Donaghy, Jack Johnson, Matty Wright, Kieran Gill, Alex Clegg, Jake Shorrocks, Josh Woods, Jay Chapelhow, Evan Simons, Ted Chapelhow, Connor Bailey, Ukuma Ta’ai, Sam Wilde

Interchanges

Liam McAvoy, Cole Oakley, Kieran Hudson, Harry Bowes

Tries: Ta’ai (15) Gill (19)

Goals: Woods 3/3

Whitehaven RLFC

Greg McNally, Lachlan Walmsley, Chris Taylor, Karl Dixon, Andrew Bulman, Louis Jouffret,  Nikau Williams, Guy Graham, James Newton, Tom Walker, Ellis Gillam, Connor Holliday, Tom Wilkinson

Interchanges

Jake Bradley, Andrew Dawson, Ryan King, Calum Phillips

Tries: Walmsley (34) Dixon (49) Bulman (59)

Goals: Walmsley 4/5