Cougars 16 Whitheaven 29 - AT TIMES the difference in league position, and budgets, between these two teams was difficult to see -- but Whitehaven had the class when it was needed.

They made sure of the two league points they need to continue their Super League quest, while Cougars must continue their desperate search for points to avoid relegation. It has been a frustrating season, with just one win under their belts and time ticking away, their cause is looking increasingly desperate.

They have shown plenty of effort and enthusiasm all season, nobody has every questioned their commitment, but they have not been able to maintain the level of intensity needed to turn good performances into winning performances. Recently they have started badly and gifted teams winning margins before starting to fully compete.

Against Whitehaven they completely dominated for the first quarter, but could only manage two Adam Mitchell penalties. They could have extended that lead on the back of two great 40-metre breaks from Phil Stephenson, but after the second Craig Nipperess inexplicably lost the ball when in the clear and a glorious chance was lost.

As errors crept into the Cougar game Whitehaven took control and scored two quick tries, one after a penalty, the second after a poor Craig McDowell pass went to ground.

The difference between the two teams was at half back - particularly scrum half. Matty Firth was marked out of the game for Cougars while Sam Obst ran the show from the 25th minute for the Whitehaven side.

He created the first try with a click kick for Carl Sice to pounce on, then collected a Leroy Joe grubber to score with ease in the 32nd minute. Mick Nanyn added two easy conversions to make it 12-4 at the break.

Nanyn also scored the first eight points of the second half. He opened the scoring with a penalty and made the most of a firth fumble to race 80 metres up field, and add the conversion. He later added a second penalty but not before the Cougars had scored their first try.

At 20-4 down the Cougars could have thrown in the towel, instead they showed great tenacity to pull the score back to 22-16 and give themselves hope of salvaging at least a point. bagged the first when he dummied his way over in the 55th minute, Mitchell adding a great touchline conversion.

Ten minutes later Simeon Hoyle grabbed a second after being obstructed. He took a quick 'tap' penalty before stepping his way through the 'Haven defence -- and Mitchell converted to narrow the deficit to six points.

The Cougars worked really hard to get something from the game without ever really threatening the Whitehaven line for a third time.

At this point their deficiency at halfback was glaring, exposed cruelly in the last four minutes or so when Obst led his team to victory.

He slotted over a 35-metre field goal to stretch a seven-point lead, then created the decisive try with two touches to put Joe over. Nanyn completed the scoring with his sixth goal.

He would have had a perfect record but for just missing a late penalty from half way as time expired.

He underlined his Super League potential with a 16-point haul, providing that vital touch of class which the Cougars are missing.

Once again it was a good performance from the Cougars which provided fans plenty of entertainment -- but they desperately need points to stay in National League 1.

"Whitehaven have Super League aspirations and are second from top while we are bottom of the table, but the difference in league position was not reflected in the game.

"We gave them a very good game, but they have the extra experience which counts at vital times in a game like this," Gar Moorby said.

This weekend they head off to Featherstone to take on the only team they have beaten in the league so far this season.

"It is vital that we get a win this week and can then work to get enough points to save the team from relegation," he said.