It was the end of an era for many at yesterday’s final west Cumbrian derby of the season.
Whitehaven took the honours with an impressive display on the field, as they now look ahead to the play-off campaign.
But all eyes were on Scott McAvoy and Craig Calvert, who both announced that they would be hanging their boots up at the end of the season.
The long-serving duo received a fitting swansong with a convincing 56-6 win at Derwent Park, receiving a guard of honour coming off the field and both bagging tries in the process.
But it was also the end of an era at Workington Town as chief executive June Kennedy retired after 44 years at Derwent Park.
She may not have enjoyed the result but a host of former Town stalwarts from years gone by turned out to see her off in style.
On the field, Town were always going to struggle, naming just one forward on their bench, and so it proved.
After battling through the opening 40-minutes with just six points between the two teams, the tide turned in the second half.
Haven started the onslaught with just one minute of the half played and there was no let up for a downbeat Town side.
Dion Aiye was in superb form for Haven and he caused havoc across the park, with Scott McAvoy running strongly and the gaps were appearing rapidly in the Town defence.
They tried hard to plug the gaps but Haven looked a well-oiled machine and it never looked like breaking down.
Whitehaven started the game off well as they looked to put a swift passing movement together but then Jessie Joe Parker couldn’t keep hold of the ball 10 metres out.
Gordon Maudling, who was Town’s stand-out player in attack and defence, looked to get the ball one-on-one in the tackle off Parker as they looked to halt an early flow from their visitors but the ref blew up for an infringement much to the dismay of the crowd.
Haven kept coming and, with just quarter-of-an-hour on the clock, they were pressing the Town line again as Marc Shackley looked to stride over from close range.
But the former Town star was denied a try against his old club as the referee blew for a forward pass and the game remained at deadlock.
In the end, it was Workington who put the first points on the board. Gordon Maudling stepped in and around four would-be tacklers on a 15-metre run to the line.
Carl Forber slotted over an easy conversion in front of the posts and they led 6-0 but knocked on from the kick-off, handing Haven field possession on their own 20-metre line.
But, in a frustrating afternoon for the local prop, Shackley knocked on near the line.
It seemed like a matter of time before Haven would break through and they did on 26 minutes. A little kick through from Dion Aiye bounced off a Town hand and back into the path of Jordan Burns who went over unopposed.
Paul Crook added the extras and it was all level once more.
Haven brought on James Newton and Lewis Brown and the former had an almost immediate impact on the game.
Newton popped up a lovely ball close to the line for Jessie Joe Parker to stroll over, with Crook converting.
Newton opened Town up again just minutes later before releasing Shackley who strode down the field before passing outside to the supporting Lewis Brown.
But unbeknown to Brown, Danny Rasool was hot on his heels and pulled him down and the youngster tried to pass off the deck and lost the ball.
The second half was only a minute old when Haven broke through thanks to an initial break from Scott McAvoy.
He passed the baton on to Newton and then Aiye finished the move off crossing the whitewash but Crook’s conversion was missed.
Moments later, they looked as though they would strike again as Chris Taylor made a superb break through the centre of the field.
But as the Town defence began to close in, he tried to release the ball, which went straight into Workington hands to relieve the pressure.
The relief was momentary as McAvoy shrugged off the defence to head for the line and mark his final derby in style.
But the Town defence halted him just short but they also fell foul of the referee who handed Haven a penalty.
And they took advantage on the first ball as Jessie Joe Parker went straight for the try line, leaving Crook an easy kick in front of the sticks.
McAvoy was not to be denied, though. And he made another lung-busting charge through the Town defence and this time he was over the line as Haven began to rack up the points. Crook converted and the visitors were 28-6 in the clear.
It only got worse for Town as a short pass from Aiye allowed Forster to charge over the line, with several Town defenders hanging on, and Crook was again on target with the goal.
Aiye and Parker were in the mix again to allow Glenn Riley to touch down, Crook converting.
Then came the perfect swansong for another retiring Haven star, although it did not go all his own way.
Craig Calvert made a superb break down the left-hand flank but he was just ankle tapped by a diving Gabriel Fell 20-metres out.
However, that was not the end as Jessie Joe Parker headed to the line and unselfishly popped the ball up to Calvert for the winger to touch down. Calvert was involved in Haven’s next try as he combined with Parker to send in Aiye for his second of the afternoon.
Aiye then bagged his hat-trick with four minutes remaining as the Town defence continued to leak under the onslaught. Crook added the extras and Haven were 56-6 winners.
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