Whitehaven 12 Keighley Cougars 22: Pursglove's double rescues Keighley

Barry Eaton's men battled back superbly after going 12-0 behind early on against one of their closest rivals in the battle against the drop.

The home team took the lead on 15 minutes courtesy of a try from Wigan academy star Josh Vievers, who is on dual-registration with the Cumbrians, and doubled their advantage with a score from ex-Wakefield man Kurt Wilton just two minutes later – both scores converted by Carl Rudd.

But Jon Presley moved the ball wide in the 23rd minute and powerful centre Daley Williams charged over from 10 metres out before Danny Jones added the extras.

Vievers should have scored a second early in the second half but was chased down as he neared the Cougars line and then on 46 minutes the visitors got back on level terms when Gavin Duffy ran onto a short pass from Jones close to the Haven line before breezing past Vievers to score. Jones added the conversion.

They could sniff victory when the home team's fans started to turn on their team and two late scores saw them home.

Both came from second row forward Ollie Pursglove, who powered over the line twice in the space of five minutes as the game drew to a close.

For the first he swatted aside Carl Rudd and the second time it was Danny Baker left in his wake.

Jones converted the first but not the second – meaning the home team did hang on to a bonus point, which could prove crucial in the final relegation shake-up as the Cougars look to overhaul their nine-point deduction.

Whitehaven: Veivers, Eilbeck, Phillip, R. Jackson, Calvert, Rudd, Joe, Thornley, Mattinson, Amor, S. Miller, Barker, Wilton. Substitutes: Sice, Hill, M. Jackson, R. Fox.

Keighley: Moss, Duffy, Sheldrake, Williams, Hutchinson, Presley, D. Jones, Shickell, Feather, Benjafield, Baines, Pursglove, Nicholson. Substitutes: Wray, Rawlins, Cartledge, Shepherd.

Referee: J Leahy (RLF).