Whitehaven chairman Tommy Todd wants the win in Blackpool over Workington Town to kick-start the Recreation Ground side’s charge to Championship safety.

The 28-24 win on Saturday at the Summer Bash lifted Haven six points clear of rock-bottom Town.

Oldham’s subsequent narrow defeat by Swinton also kept the Roughyeds below the Cumbrians and in the other relegation place.

Todd said: “I am just hoping that we can kick-on from here and make sure we are safe from any relegation fears at the end of the season.

“The team played exceptionally well and I thought it was difficult to pick out any individual as there were so many who excelled.

“Avoiding the drop into the League One is vital because I think it could be the death-knell for clubs like ours. I don’t think the Rugby Football League realise the costs involved.

“We recently travelled to London and the costs to us were £6,500 – and that’s without the wages,” he added.

“If we have to do that three or four times a season to the likes of Oxford, Hemel, Gloucester and South Wales the expense will be crippling.”

From a derby game against the bottom team in the Championship, Whitehaven now have to turn their attentions to the league leaders.

It goes without saying that Leigh Centurions will offer a completely different challenge than Workington Town gave them in Blackpool.

The Centurions edged-out Bradford Bulls 24-20 at Bloomfield Road and, so far, have dropped only three points in 15 competitive games as they look set to retain the league leaders trophy they won last year.

But Leigh expect to lose two of their players for a considerable length of time when the disciplinary panel meet this week.

Both Gareth Hock and ex-Workington forward Jamie Acton were given two grade D charges, including one for serious punching, in the recent win over Swinton Lions.

Acton will also face a charge of striking with the knee, and Hock of making contact with a match official for the fourth time in his career.

It appears that both players could be looking at bans of up to 10 matches, which would take them through to the Super Eights.

The pair of them issued a statement in which thy apologised unreservedly for their actions which they admit could have seriously harmed the reputation of the Leigh club and the game as a whole.

In addition Leigh hooker Micky Higham is also facing a grade D charge for a dangerous throw.

In total the review panel had to consider action against nine different players from that Swinton v Leigh game, six of whom have been charged.