The incident distinctly jolted Hornets' focus and - by the time they'd regained their composure sufficiently for James Bunyan to score, they were well adrift.

But Hornets started badly. Kirkbride taking an inside ball from Joe on six minutes, Lester stepping round a napping defence on 15 minutes and Wallace plunging in at the corner on the third consecutive set of six on 20 minutes. 18-0 to 'haven.

But Hornets dragged themselves back into the game. A high kick to dodgy 'haven winger Chris Campbell on the half hour saw him cough possession under pressure from Cooper, setting up a walk in for Matt Calland; Woody converted.

Then five minutes later another high kick to dodgy 'haven winger Chris Campbell saw him cough possession in the tackle. From the resulting scrum a neat Ayres cut out pass to Brendan O'Meara saw him squeeze in at the corner. 18-10 up the hill and Whitehaven visibly shaken. It bore well for a good second half.

And Hornets started in determined fashion. Matt Long's drives pushed Whitehaven backwards, Ayres sprayed the ball around and Hornets looked certs to open the scoring. But the scrambling home defence somehow held firm.

As consecutive 60 yard breaks by Davidson, Smith and Bunyan came to nothing, Hornets looked certain to capitalise on Owen's 50 metre mazy run. A quick play the ball, Stevo first receiver with the line at his mercy and...

Leroy Joe jumped into the tackle with knees raised and elbows at head height. It had the desired effect. With both 'haven props wheezing on the bench, it removed Hornets' influential prop from the game; it deflated Hornets' confidence and Morris' decision to leave Joe on the field gave a Whitehaven side that was dead in its boots a very important lift. Hornets took the two points from the resulting penalty, when - in retrospect - a set of six in the 'haven ten metre zone might have been more beneficial.

As it was, Leroy Joe set up Miller and Morton to give his side daylight and the points. - not a good afternoon.

On a day when a sluggish Hornets seemed to have done enough to put themselves back in what was a poor game, Colin Morris' (non)contribution had a major bearing on proceedings.

In the closing stages, a Whitehaven defender knocked down a Hornets pass, the ball was gathered by Campbell who raced fully 90 metres to plant the ball down. Morris hadn't a clue. The touch judge on that touchline denied having seen the knock on, the home fans round us looked sheepish and sucked through their teeth, eyes raised; Morris consulted the 'touchie' who was fully 50 metres from the incident and - after about two full minutes of arsing about - gave a scrum back on the Haven ten metre line. It capped an all-round useless perfromance.

As for Hornets, they'll be disapponted that they didn't take this game when they had the chance. Support, incision and a killer-instinct at the right time would have seen 'haven off with 20 minutes to play. And the loss of Ayres with what appeared to be a nasty cut after an hour saw Hornets lose a shape they were never to regain. It was one of those days - and it wasn't to be.

And Whitehaven's a bloody long way to come home when you've lost.