By Alan Irving

Last updated 16:06, Wednesday, 06 August 2008

WHITEHAVEN’s coach-of-the-month Ged Stokes is showing faith in the team that flopped at Dewsbury for tonight’s TV clash with top six rivals Sheffield Eagles.

in the squad: Danny Barker is named in the Haven squad

Haven now command their own destiny in the race to claim a coveted National League One play off spot, something that seemed impossible a couple of months ago.

“They know they let themselves down as much as anybody else but I have great faith in their character and ability to bounce right back against Sheffield,” said the coach.

Pride was hurt at Dewsbury, with two vital points being sacrificed in losing to the division’s bottom club, but otherwise the players came through unscathed.

The good news is that Haven will still have the firepower of Marc Jackson for another week at least. He is now at the mercy of the game’s judiciary – legacy of the last home match in which he allegedly “raised an elbow” to flatten a Halifax opponent.

Three of the club’s young guns have been added to the squad and, after being named as 18th man for the last three weeks, up and coming back rower Danny Barker will be hoping to get a chance off the bench.

Also added to last week’s match day 17 are scrum-half Marc Bainbridge, who has recovered from a broken wrist, and ex-Egremont Rangers back rower Mark Shackley, who returned to Haven last term from Warrington after playing in their Academy.

Defeat at Dewsbury surrendered Haven’s four match winning streak but Ged Stokes is confident that Sheffield will feel the backlash. Haven are not only looking to complete the double over the Eagles but also fire their bid for a best possible place in the National League One play-offs. Two even more vital games follow: Leigh (away) and Widnes (home).

Asked just how crucial they were, Stokes declared: “I don’t think there’s been one game this season when I’ve said this is any more important than the last or the next. It’s been all systems go, either to get away from the relegation zone or to climb the league ladder as well as we have done.

“Now it’s entirely in the players’ own hands, we had a meaningful conversation on Tuesday night at training and everybody understands this. Things went wrong at Dewsbury, we played with zero enthusiasm, but they are not a bad side and it is a travesty they will be going down.

“Whitehaven players have done a magnificent job this season, they have been under constant pressure but they know now they can handle pressure.”

Despite the live screening of tonight’s game, Ged said he was banking on a good Recre roar to help bring the team home just in the way they eclipsed Halifax and Salford in the last TV game.

“Our supporters are very significant for us, almost like an 18th man and I am sure they will be once again.”

Marc Jackson has been found by the RFL to have a case to answer after being put on report by a touch judge for the 21st minute incident in the Halifax match.

The verdict will be given next Tuesday. Says Haven chairman Gordon Grace: “Jacko was coming away from his own line when two Halifax players went to tackle him. The report claims he raised an elbow and laid out one of them. Marc says there was a clash of heads. We will be defending him.”

No fewer than eight Whitehaven players have been named among National League One’s best performers in two separate team of the month selections.

What’s more, Leroy Joe is No.1 in the Co-operative NLI team and team mate Karl Edmondson judged top player by RL World Magazine, just pipping Joe.

Also in the Co-operative select are five Haven forwards: Edmondson, Graeme Mattinson, Ryan McDonald, Howard Hill, and Joe.

Lining up with Edmondson in the RL Magazine side are fullback Gary Broadbent, centre Rob Jackson, the versatile Joe (at stand-off) and Tongan international centre Saia Makisi, chosen at loose forward.

Ged Stokes is coach of the month. “I am chuffed to bits for everybody,” said Ged. “It just shows how well we do when we play as a team, we don’t have superstars and we don’t want to rely on gamebreakers, we’re at our best all pulling together.”

Building for the future, Haven have snapped up star Hensingham and Great Britain amateur back rower Kyle Amor. “We’ve signed him as a first teamer on a three year deal, I believe he’s going to be a big asset to the club,” said his new coach.

Marc Jackson’s switch from prop to hooker allowed Haven to release opportunist No.9 Carl Sice to Barrow on a month’s loan.

Pride of five £100 winners for week commencing July 28 were – P Watson, Claremont, Woodend, Egremont with ticket number 974; S Clarke, Criffel Road, Parton, 573; C Goodall, Cross Lane, Whitehaven, 543; D Byrne, Springfield Avenue, Whitehaven, 272; M McDonald, Hawthorn Close, Distington, 1526