Whitehaven chairman Tommy Todd is considering a letter of complaint about the standard of refereeing in the Halifax game on Saturday.

A penalty count of 7-1 against Haven in the second-half contributed to them eventually losing a 12-0 lead. They were denied a win by a last-gasp try and equalising conversion.

Todd will wait until coach James Coyle has reviewed the video recording of the game before deciding whether to write to Rugby League’s chief executive Nigel Wood.

The Whitehaven chairman said: “It’s something I have never done before and I wouldn’t do it lightly. The trouble now is that you can’t say anything in public about a referee without getting into trouble.

“I don’t see why you can’t make comments about how the game has been handled, especially if you make constructive criticism.

“I really do think the old system was the best where clubs were able to mark a referee on different aspects of his performance.

“We didn’t do it in the heat of the moment but waited until things had calmed down on a Tuesday.”

Coach Coyle hadn’t been happy about some of the decisions made by Tom Grant in the game, particularly a couple of late challenges on Grant Gore which the referee missed.

In actual fact, Championship neighbours Workington Town had similar complaints about referee Andy Sweet in their 29-22 home defeat against Bradford Bulls on Sunday.

Crucial decisions in the last ten minutes cost the west Cumbrians who remain rock bottom of the championship, seven points behind their neighbours who are fourth from the foot of the table.

It has all given rise in some areas to a feeling that there’s some kind of conspiracy afoot to make sure the two Cumbrian clubs drop into Championship One.