Martin Morgan reports from Cougar Park

Last updated 14:54, Monday, 03 March 2008

Northern Rail Cup: Keighley 16 Whitehaven 32: THE post-John Duffy era started with a bang, his replacement as Haven’s key playmaker Carl Rudd collecting a 20-point haul at Cougar Park yesterday.

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Rudd will have added responsibility, now Duffy has departed to Widnes.

And while much tougher tests will lie ahead for him this season, the stand-off made a pleasing start against the NL2 side.

After a rocky opening few minutes, Haven reverted to their improved second-half form of last week against Workington Town.

Saia Makisi notched two tries, while fellow new signing Ade Abebisi continued to create a positive impression with a couple of cracking 50-metre breaks.

Leroy Joe laid down a marker for the 13 shirt – or rather the six shirt – he won’t wear the ‘unlucky for some’ for superstitious reasons.

Joe improves with age and ran Rudd closest as Haven’s most influential player, while prop Scott Teare, in his first run-out of the campaign, also caused problems for the Cougars.

Haven paid a price for conceding two penalties within the first minute, which carried them from the Keighley line, back to their own.

Cougars’ highly-rated young hooker James Feather then burst over from dummy-half, Adam Mitchell converting.

A Rudd penalty on 10 minutes reduced the deficit, and he then added a try. A Keighley defender’s hand in the tackle saw the count wiped clear, and as the Cougars held off Rudd expecting a pass, he shot through to score. His conversion put the Cumbrians 8-6 ahead.

The lead lasted little over 10 minutes, however, the hosts hitting back moments after Richard Fletcher was sin-binned for holding down.

Sub Brendon Rawlins burst through, and Mitchell was again on target with his kick.

Keighley seemed certain to increase their lead as impressive back-rower Greg Nicholson put Jon Presley clear in midfield.

But wingers Adebisi and Craig Calvert somehow got back to deny the stand-off, and on the next play, Graeme Mattinson intercepted.

Haven seized the initiative, and on 37 minutes, Makisi, who had earlier made a couple of handling errors, dived over the whitewash, following good work from Gary Broadbent.

Adebisi opened the second-half with a fantastic break. A Cougars’ attacker was then gang-tackled behind his own line, and on the next set, Teare’s offload created space, Makisi’s round-the-corner pass putting Spencer Miller in the clear.

He fed Calvert, who was brave in heavy traffic to force his way over the line. Rudd’s touchline conversion put Haven 18-12 up.

Haven were starting to build pressure, and when Howard Hill was held down 10-metres out, Rudd’s penalty increased the lead.

On their next set, Adebisi broke deep in to Cougars’ territory. It was a fine effort, but an inside pass to Jackson would have led to a try.

No matter, later in the set, Rudd skilfully collected his own grubber to score.

He again booted the conversion, and then converted Makisi’s 63rd minute try, the Tongan taking a neat inside pass from Liam Finch.

Keighley went on to enjoy one of their best spells of the game, despite centre Karl Smith’s sin-binning for punching.

Second-row Will Cartledge crossed for the hosts, following a string of penalties, which had pegged Haven on their line.

The Yorkshire outfit might have had another try late on, when a high bomb was directed at Jackson. But he took it well and set off on a 60-metre break to round off an encouraging afternoon for Haven.

MATCH FACTS

Haven: Broadbent, Calvert, Makisi, R Jackson, Adebisi, Rudd, Finch, McDonald, Sice, Edmondson, Miller, Fletcher, Joe. Subs: Eilbeck, Mattinson, Hill, Teare

Tries: Rudd 2, Makisi 2, Calvert

Goals: Rudd 6

Cougars: Raynor, Gardner, Smith, Pursglove, Hutchinson, Presley, Mitchell, Bissell, Feather, Lowe, Cartledge, Nicholson, Redfearn. Subs: Fawcett, Knight, Rawlins, Palmer

Tries: Feather, Rawlins, Cartledge

Goals: Mitchell 2

Referee: M Thomason

Attendance: 621

Star Man: Carl Rudd