Whitehaven 14 Sheffield Eagles 24: Eagles use numerical advantage and late tries confirm triumph

The first half was something of a stalemate with just the one try, for the home team. Rob Jackson was stopped just short but Derry Eilbeck went from acting half-back and span out of an insipid tackle from Menzie Yere to touch down. Carl Rudd's conversion struck a post and bounced away.

Carl Sice was sin-binned for the hosts just before the break and the Eagles started the second period in dominant mood.

First Peter Green forced his way over from close range and then Yere scored after Brendon Lindsay chipped the ball over the top on the last tackle and re-gathered the loose ball before sending his centre away. But Lindsay failed to convert either score and Whitehaven went back ahead with Craig Calvert's try.

Yere struck again just after the hour to put the Eagles back in front but a second try from Calvert saw the pendulum swing back the home team's way.

However, with just four minutes left, Mark Aston's men came up with two tries to snatch victory, first Craig Cook going over for his 19th of the season before Lindsay grabbed the last as the hooter sounded, Tim Bergin converting both scores.

The victims of the Cumbria shootings, and in particular former Whitehaven and Workington Town forward Garry Purdham, had been remembered ahead of the game at the Recreation Ground.

Garry's wife Ros released 12 doves, one for each of the fatal victims of the shootings, before kick-off and the teams were lead onto the field by the couple's sons, Cameron and Flynn.

Whitehaven: Veivers, Eilbeck, D Miller, R Jackson, Calvert, Rudd, Tony, Thornley, Mattinson, Bibb, S Miller, Barker, Joe. Substitutes: Sice, Hill, Wilton, M Jackson.

Sheffield Eagles: Taulapapa, Ropati, Yere, Mossop, Bergin, Lindsay, Brooks, Hepworth, Cook, Stringer, Exton, Burnett, McDonald. Substitutes: Green, Corcoran, Haley, Hirst.

Referee: Peter Brooke (RFL).