Lions fade out of cup

Arriva Trains Cup Qualifying Group: FOR 71 minutes Lions looked quite capable of an upset.

Whitehaven, who had starred on national television in the Challenge Cup against Warrington, two days earlier, were hanging on at 6-12, and could quite reasonably have been the team most expected to run out of gas.

However, when Ryan Campbell crossed with nine minutes to go, Lions' heads dropped, resulting in a total capitulation in the time remaining.

"We fell off the pace towards the end," said Lions' head coach Paul Kidd.

"We lost Wes Rogers and Sarfraz Patel with bad injuries, and I'm not prepared to comment on the high tackle that put Chris Irwin out until I've seen the video.

"But you can't expect to beat anyone if you only complete 50 per cent of your sets of six."

The match opened with 'Havens new Australian recruit, Sam Obst, putting a kick behind the Lions' line, which was dealt with by Irwin.

Wing Mark Bolton then wasted a chance when, after two tackles, he passed the ball to a Whitehaven player.

Wayne English then did well to field the ball from another Obst kick, but he couldn't make it back into the field of play.

On 16 minutes the first try came 'Havens way, when Craig Walsh broke up their left wing, and as English came across to make the tackle, he collided with team mate Phil Cushion, leaving Walsh an open run in behind the posts.

Wood converted to give Whitehaven a 0-6 lead.

Rob Barraclough was held on his back over the 'Haven line and moments later, Irwin thought he had scored, but the touch judge signalled he had put a foot in touch just prior to crossing the try line.

At this stage in the game Lions were looking extremely good in defence, limiting Whitehaven to speculative kicks behind the try line by Obst and Leroy Joe.

However, on the stroke of half-time Whitehaven struck a crucial blow, when a long spell of pressure ended with Carl Sice crossing under the posts, leaving Wood with the simplest of conversions.

The second half opened with Whitehaven having to scramble heroically to defend their 0-12 lead.

With a yawning gap to his right and two players completely un-marked, Warren Ayres took the wrong option and kicked to the visitors' line.

They managed to clear the danger and prevent what would have been a certain try if Ayres had chosen the passing option instead.

Twelve minutes after the break the Lions finally got their just reward.

Chris Maye broke up the left wing and a beautifully timed pass sent Irwin behind the posts for a well taken try.

Maye himself converted and the Lions were well and truly back in the game at 6-12.

On 61 minutes a high tackle by the visitors' full-back Wood on Irwin, saw the Lions' winger having to leave the field with his face pouring with blood. Referee Dawber put the incident on report.

With nine minutes to go, and trying to work the ball out of their own 20 metre area, Lions' other winger, Roach, was bundled into touch.

With possession from the scrum, Campbell struck a crucial blow with his try just to the left of the posts. Wood converted and the visitors lead went up to 6-18.

Three minutes later Jake Johnstone lost the ball in front of his own posts.

Whitehaven scooped it up and they swung the ball out left where Sice was on hand to scoot over for his second try of the night.

Wood again added the extras and the score had a distinctly unfair look about it at 6-24.

However, in the 79th minute, Walsh went past Roach as though he was a ghost and scored his second try of the game. Wood again added the goal points.

With just seconds remaining 'Haven came forward once more, and their persistence in kicking behind the Lions' line finally paid off, when Joe kicked for Spencer Miller to complete the Lions misery.

LIONS: English, Roach, Bolton, Maye, Irwin, Hodson, Ayres, Whittaker, Barraclough, Rogers, Cushion. Heaton. Cannon. Subs: Hayden, Patel, Johnstone, Liku.

LIONS' latest signing, Aussie forward Mark Pembroke was forced to pull out of his debut on Tuesday night due to a shin splints injury.

On Sunday the Lions are away to Oldham in their penultimate Arriva Trains Cup qualifying game.

MICHAEL CAINE