Three tries from Gregg McNally helped Whitehaven to a 24-22 win over Halifax in the Co-operative National League 1 play-offs.

The Cumbrian side were chasing the game until McNally’s hat-trick score gave them the lead on 52 minutes; Halifax drew level but drop goals from Tan Manihera and Mark Jackson were the difference.

Haven will now face the tough prospect of a trip to Salford on Thursday night to see which side will face Celtic Crusaders in the Grand Final.

It was Halifax who scored first, Graham Holroyd sending Miles Greenwood over the line before adding the conversion, but Whitehaven hit back with a superb 80-metre effort from McNally.

It took until after the half-hour mark for the next try, Mark Flanagan touching down a loose ball in the Haven in-goal area that, controversially, Ade Adibisi may have got a hand to first.

A third Halifax touch down was ruled out due to a forward pass; instead Leroy Joe sent McNally over for a second time, Manihera converting to leave the half-time score at 10-10.

Dana Wilson opened the second-half scoring for the home side, Holroyd converting, but Haven responded immediately when Adibisi stole the ball and scored beside the posts, Manihera restoring parity.

The visitors went into the lead for the first time when a kick from Joe was touched down by McNally for his hat-trick, Manihera adding the two, but the scores were again levelled with a try from Paul Southern converted by Holroyd.

With around ten minutes left Manihera edged Haven ahead with a drop goal, and a frenetic final few moments saw Halifax go close three or four times while another drop goal from Jackson settled the game.

Halifax – 22

T: Greenwood (7); Flanagan (33); Wilson (43); Southern (60)
G: Holroyd (8, 44, 61)

Whitehaven – 23

T: McNally (15, 37, 52); Adibisi (46)
G: Manihera (38, 47, 53)
Dg: Manihera (71); Jackson (80)

HT: 10-10

Ref: R Silverwood

Att: 2,302