17 July 2022

Rovers made the near four hour journey to Whitehaven on what will likely be recorded as one of the warmest days of the year.  Brian McDermott rested forward Junior Moors and brought Josh Hardcastle back into the fold after a spell out with injury, a debut was also handed to new signing Tom Lineham. Rovers got the game underway and immediately forced a goal line dropout from the kick-off only for Whitehaven to capitalise on an error and forced their way up the right hand side of the field to score the first points of the game.  It took twenty minutes for Rovers to post their first points of the afternoon, Smith with a trademark score.  The right edge fired again soon after as a deft flick pass from Joey Leilua put Luke Briscoe in the corner for Rovers to take a lead. Whitehaven bit back, capitalising on a defensive error to lead at the break 12-10, the missed conversion from Hal being the difference.

Rovers looked a different side in the second half, Briscoe and Leilua partnering exceptionally well for Leilua to run in under the sticks. Rovers went back to back as Morgan Smith pounced on a Whitehaven error, Brett Ferres able to score with ease from dummy half. Smith made it three scores in ten minutes as he went from try maker to try scorer in a blistering period of Rovers attack.  A good period for Rovers was soured slightly as Dion Aiye found a gap to slide through the Rovers defence. Josh Hardcastle marked his return to the side following injury with a try midway through the second half, this was quickly followed by another superb break-away effort for Broadbent and Bussey with the young fullback making his way through to give Rovers a grip on the game.  With five minutes to go, Dion Aiye duplicated his first try to put wind back in the Haven sails only for it to be taken straight back out by Matty Wildie who picked up the ball on halfway and scampered through for a try, the final play of the game.