Whitehaven overpowered by Wood and Westwood

Whitehaven 10 Warrington Wolves 4

Whitehaven's nuclear powered part-timers found themselves no match for a team of Super League professionals. Thirteen members of the West Cumbrian club's squad had combined working shifts at nearby Sellafield with training in their spare time for this Cup tie.

Whitehaven's nuclear powered part-timers found themselves no match for a team of Super League professionals. Thirteen members of the West Cumbrian club's squad had combined working shifts at nearby Sellafield with training in their spare time for this Cup tie.

However, despite being overwhelmed by Warrington's pace and power yesterday, the Whitehaven coach, Steve McCormack, believes his players may have reason to give up their day jobs in the near future.

"We're very disappointed with the defeat and the scoreline,'' said McCormack. "But the whole town got behind us. This is where we want to be, playing in front of a packed house every week. If we are in Super League, that's what we'd get."

There was rarely a sniff of an upset from the moment Warrington's John Wilshere, on the end of a good handling move, crossed in the right corner after 14 minutes. Ben Westwood scored the second in the other corner 10 minutes later.

The scoreline was given a more encouraging look for the home side 11 minutes before the break when Westwood spilled the ball and veteran scrum-half Lee Kiddie picked up and galloped over. But that was the last moment of hope for Whitehaven, with Nathan Wood pinching the ball from Gary Broadbent and scuttling over just before the half-time hooter. Warrington ran in five more tries in the second half, Paul Wood, Ian Sibbit, Wood again, Brent Grose and ex-Whitehaven forward Warren Stevens all making the most of the tiring Cumbrian defence.

There was one brief moment of illumination for the 5,000 crowd. Mick Nanyn, a reported target for several Super League clubs, stepped through the visitors' defence before chipping to the line and getting the touchdown ahead of Daryl Cardiss.

The Warrington coach, Paul Cullen, who spent two years as coach at Whitehaven, said: "It was exactly what we expected. We had to ride a few blows to the ribs but we did it very well. We couldn't let the emotion of the day get to us and we didn't.''

Whitehaven: Broadbent; Wilson, Nanyn, Seeds, O'Neill; Joe, Kiddie; Fatialofa, Lester, Jackson, Morton, McDermott, Hill. Substitutes used: Chambers, Miller, Sice, Walsh.

Warrington: Cardiss; Wilshere, Grose, Westwood, Sibbit; Briers, N Wood; P Wood, Clarke, Hilton, Noone, Wainwright, Forshaw. Substitutes used: Gleeson, Guisset, Stevens, Lima.

Referee: S Ganson.