Match Report: Whitehaven RLFC v Newcastle Thunder

Sunday afternoon saw Newcastle Thunder make the trip to take on Whitehaven in round two of The Betfred Championship. 

Given the recent rain, Thunder were greeted with a heavy pitch at The Ortus Rec. The tone was set from kick off when a big Thunder hit on Jake Pearce forced an error. Luckily he was able to return later in the game. Thunder blew Whitehaven away in the first quarter with pressure and physicality. 

The first try was scored by Ryan Jackson with a trademark hard carry to the Whitehaven line to score, Jack Smith converted to give Thunder a 0-6 lead after six minutes. Next to score was Brad Ward who got the ball and dived into the corner with three defenders coming across, he took it really well. Smith missed the conversion out wide and Thunder led 0-10 after twelve minutes. 

Thunder's kicking game was causing Whitehaven problems especially low kicks into the mud that weren't sitting up meaning the Thunder defence could be up and putting pressure on Whitehaven. 

The home crowd were getting frustrated as Thunder got a six again and then earned a penalty. This led to a Harvey Reynolds try with a hit and spin over the line. Harvey had an excellent game, his work rate was huge. Jack Smith converted the try to take it to 0-16 after sixteen minutes. From the resulting Whitehaven kick off Thunder went through their set and the ball found McGowan who from his own half ran a lovely arcing line to speed around his opposite man, his break led to a two on one and Cody Hunter was the recipient to run in and score. Jack Smith converted and Thunder were 0-22 up after twenty minutes. 

Next it was Cody Hunter's time to turn provider. Thunder had got a penalty from an incident that went on report. As they attacked, Hunter showed his composure to delay his pass and send Noah Whittingham over. The conversion was missed by Smith but Thunder led 0-26 after twenty seven minutes. 

The game was getting really scrappy at this point with errors and penalties conceded from both teams. Brad Ward did have a try ruled out for a knock on from a high Thunder kick. Whitehaven rallied and the introduction of Brad Brennan and Jordan Thomson from the interchange bench gave them some momentum. Thunder conceded six again on the last tackle and Whitehaven capitalised. They put a low kick through into the Thunder in goal area and Ethan Bickerdike slid in to score. The conversion was added by Ciaran Walker to take it to 6-26 after thirty six minutes. 

There was still time for Thunder to score their final try of the half when Harvey Reynolds went over from close rang and Smith converted to take the score to 6-32. The half ended with Whitehaven putting a cross field kick in on the hooter, Andy Djeukessi did really well to take the ball and looked to counter and found an offload but Thunder were tackled and that brought a halftime score of 6-32.

Thunder started the second half strongly as Maxime Rostang was held up over the line. Ukuma Ta'ai powered his way over shortly after to score and Jack Smith converted after forty four minutes to take the score to 6-38. Shortly after Thunder put a kick through and Rostang went to kick through but made contact with the Whitehaven player instead, leading to a penalty. 

Whitehaven put more pressure on Thunder with Thunder conceding six again's. Under pressure, captain Taylor Pemberton did brilliantly to stop Whitehaven spinning the ball wide by wrapping his man and thwarting an attack. Shortly after there was more heroic defence from Thunder, Whitehaven looked certain to score but Thunder somehow stopped them on the line. 

Next we saw some French flair from Maxime Rostang who was playing at hooker, he put through a neat grubber and captain, Taylor Pemberton dived over to score. Jack Smith converted to take the score to 06-44 after sixty minutes.

The second half in the main was a scrappy affair with it threatening to boil over on a couple of occasions on a pitch that was becoming heavier. The last quarter saw two more Thunder tries. On sixty eight minutes Aidan McGowan darted over from close range and Jack Smith converted to take Thunder to fifty points and the score to 06-50.

The final try of the game saw fullback Jordan Lipp make a strong run from the Thunder half, he found McGowan who had the speed to run in from halfway, Smith missed the conversion but it took the full time score to 06-54 and a first win at Whitehaven since 2001.

This was a real team performance on a heavy pitch. Thunder blew Whitehaven away in the first quarter of the game with strong carrying from the likes of Santi and Jackson. Harvey Reynolds worked hard all game and Taylor Pemberton had another outstanding game leading the team and switching into the halves for the second half following an injury to Will Roberts. It was a really mature performance from Thunder.

Whitehaven did rally and the introduction of Brennan and Thomson from the bench brought them some momentum. But it was Thunder's day to make it two wins from two in the league and a pleasing start to the season. Next, we look forward to our first home game of the season as we welcome Dewsbury Rams to Blaydon Rugby Club on Sunday 15th February for a 15:00 kick off. 

Whitehaven: 18 Cole Walker-Taylor, 19 Dave Eccleston, 23 Ben Pearce, 4 Ethan Bickerdike, 2 Mitchell Todd, 21 Joe Lowe, 6 Ciaran Walker, 8 Jake Pearce, 9 Ellison Holgate, 22 Brett Bailey, 15 Ellis Nixon, 11 Connor Holliday, 13 Jack Kellett. Interchanges: 20 Marc Shackley, 16 Brad Brennan, 10 Jordan Thomson, 32 Liam Williamson.

Newcastle Thunder: 27 Jordan Lipp, 2 Andy Djeukessi, 25 Jack Smith, 23 Aidan McGowan, 5 Brad Ward, 6 Cody Hunter, 7 Will Roberts, 10 Ryan Jackson, 9 Taylor Pemberton, 15 Brenden Santi, 24 Matty Foster, 12 Noah Whittingham, 11 Harvey Reynolds. Interchanges: 14 Maxime Rostang, 18 Ukuma Ta'ai, 16 Leo Tennison, 28 Tyler Walton.

by Phil World