Powergen Challenge Cup: Whitehaven 10 - 42 Warrington
Whitehaven 10 Warrington 42
The dream did not extend to becoming the first lower-division club in the last four of the Challenge Cup for eight years but yesterday was still a momentous occasion in little Whitehaven's history.
Two tries and a virtuoso performance from Warrington's Australian half-back Nathan Wood hurt Whitehaven's challenge but the National League part-timers are soothed by the financial windfall.
"It went exactly the way we thought it would go," said the Warrington coach Paul Cullen. "We knew it would be a tough, physical challenge at first and we would have to weather it."
Whitehaven led through Mick Nanyn's early penalty and trailed only 10-6 as half-time approached after Lee Kiddie snatched a try when Graeme Morton's tackle jolted the ball from Ben Westwood.
But Wood's first try for Warrington, after a clever ball steal and long video referee deliberations, proved crucial. Then, in the second half, Warrington laid siege. Wood sent Ian Sibbit across and then scored a second himself.
Though an upset receded, the packed Recreation Ground had a final celebration when Nanyn chipped through to the line for their second try.
"This has been massive for the club," said the Whitehaven chairman Barry Richardson. "We want Super League here; then we'd have days like these every fortnight."
Whitehaven: Broadbent; Wilson, Seeds, Nanyn, O'Neil; Joe, Kiddie; Jackson, Lester, Fatialofa, Morton, McDermott, Hill. Substitutes : Walsh, Sice, Chambers, Miller.
Warrington: Grose; Cardiss, Westwood, Noone, Wilshere; Briers, N Wood; Hilton, Clarke, P Wood, Sibbit, Wainwright, Forshaw. Substitutes: Gleeson, Guisset, Stevens, Lima.
Referee: S Ganson (St Helens).