By Martin Morgan

Last updated 15:17, Friday, 13 June 2008

WHITEHAVEN are to speak to John Patrick and Steve Ormesher about committing to the club after impressing on trial for the reserve-grade.

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Impressive: John Patrick in action for Cumbria

Boss Ged Stokes believes Patrick, who remarkably earned a full Barla Great Britain call up this year while featuring in the Cumberland League Second Division with champs Cockermouth, has the potential to make his mark as a pro.

And he wants to tie the big centre, who he worked with at Cockermouth before taking over at the Recre, to a long-term deal.

He sees prop/second-row Ormesher, who played for Workington Town under Stokes, as ideal cover for his first-team forwards and would like to sign him on a shorter-term basis.

“John Patrick has strength and size, and his best attribute is that he knows where the try-line is,” said Stokes. “And he’s an unknown quantity, so he won’t be on anyone’s radar.

“He would be a player for the future, there’s no doubt about that. It’s just a matter of what he thinks about it.”

Both players completed initial four-week trials last weekend.

Warrington-born Patrick, a plumber, who was raised in Whitehaven, has scored five tries on his two GB appearances.

At 25, he has just completed his second year in local ARL. He joined the British Army at 17 serving for five years before spending a year Down Under, visiting his sister and turning out for South Perth Lions, in a standard of rugby he equates to NL2 in England.

Stokes, who has handed teenage scrum-half Gregg McNally his big break this term, is well aware of the potential in Haven’s reserve-grade and has not ruled out further promotions for the club’s talented prospects.

Haven, who beat Featherstone 32-18 on Sunday, Spencer Miller marking his 200th appearance for the club with his 34th try, have a free weekend.

The club’s reserve-grade lost a tight game 26-20 at Featherstone on Saturday. They trailed 18-4 at the break before staging a second-half fight-back that fell marginally short.

Derry Eilbeck, two, Paul Lancaster and Marc Bainbridge crossed for Haven, who now lie fifth in the table with four wins from seven games.

Manager Dave Farrell said: “We’ve had some big defeats at Featherstone over the years, and what would be seen as a moral victory a few years ago, is now seen as a disappointment. That’s maybe the way it should be in a professional environment.

“We now have a blank weekend. It would have been good to get a game this week to get the momentum going after two defeats.

“We have still to play (leaders) Leigh twice, and those games are probably going to be crucial. If we get something from them, the play-offs will be beckoning.”

Ex-Workington Town teenager Tyrone Dalton, who was on pro forms at Derwent Park, before his recent release, has joined Haven on a four-week trial and debuted at scrum-half at Post Office Road.

New commercial manager Harry O’Neil has stepped down from the post.

Last week’s Pride of Five £100 winners were B Poole, of Ennerdale Road, Cleator Moor, with ticket number 1,839; D Bone, Bedford Street, Hensingham, 72; L&G Taxis, Kells, 816; J Shepherd, Orchard Court, Mirehouse, 339; D Dunbabin, Bowness Road, Greenbank, 2,809.

200 Club winners – £500 - W Porter; £100 - Coyles; £50 each - N Musson, Phil & Geoff; The Stump, D Farrish, B Haile, P Barwise, M Rothery, Surtees, Quinn and Hinde.

Second Edition – £500 - H Haywood; £100 - M Calvin; £50 each - P Taylor, S Batty, A Wren, R Beck, J Ross, A Freeman, J Swailes, M Richardson.