Patched-up and depleted Whitehaven offered an uplifting challenge for over an hour before running-out of steam against full-time opposition.

Sheffield scored three tries in the last 12 minutes to pull clear and give their relegation concerns a major boost ahead of the Super Eights.

For Whitehaven the immediate prospect is of tackling seven Cup finals and hoping that as many as possible of the 11 players currently sidelined will be able to take part in the majority of those games.

Coach James Coyle had to go into the final game of the regulation season knowing that two of his four substitutes wouldn’t be going onto the field. Louis Jouffret and Liam Carberry, because of their injuries, were only able to make-up the numbers.

So it was hardly surprising that with fewer options from the bench Whitehaven’s challenge petered out as, by contrast, the Eagles came strong in the final quarter.

Whitehaven had led 12-10 at the break and on the resumption could have established an even healthier cushion. Grant Gore missed a penalty from kickable range; the admirable Anthony Walker was held-up on the line and twice, from good attacking positions in the Sheffield 10-meter zone Whitehaven contrived to lose the ball.

Both sides had gone into the contest smarting from last minute defeats in their previous game but it was Sheffield who struck the first blow after only four minutes. The ball was shipped left and full-back Quentin Laulu-Togagae sliced through for a simple touchdown which Cory Aston converted.

Whitehaven countered well and within six minutes were level after a clever little grubber kick from Gore was followed by Chris Taylor who swooped to score. Gore tacked-on the extras.

The hosts did have a let-off on 22 minutes when they were split down their right-hand side again but Aston knocked-on as all he had to do was catch the pass and go over unchallenged.

It proved a costly miss from Sheffield’s point of view when Whitehaven scored in their next attack. The lively Gore finished off well, spotting a gap near the line before ducking underneath a challenge to make the touchdown. Unfortunately he missed with the kick.

Sheffield seemed to lift their game and Craig Calvert and Jordan Burns both made try-saving tackles for the home side. They could do nothing about Sheffield’s equalising try on 33 minutes as winger Rob Warrincy finished off cleverly in the corner. Aston was well wide with the conversion attempt.

There was another chance for Sheffield when Matty Fozard dropped the ball going over the line before, in the dying seconds of the half Gore kicked a 30 metre penalty.

Whitehaven’s forwards had been superb in the first half, given the added stints they were asked to do with just two usable substitutes. Sponsors man of the match Steven Fox, hard-working Walker, Dave Allen and Glen Riley were immense in the Whitehaven effort feeding off the intelligent prompting of Thomas Coyle.

The second-half started promisingly, too, spirits lifted by Gore’s 43rd minute penalty and a thrilling 70 yard touchline run from Calvert to turn defence into attack. At the end of that they got another penalty but this time Gore fired wide.

Walker was held up on the line and Allen had the ball knocked from his grasp when he was making strong inroads towards the line but the elusive third try just wouldn’t come.

Even the most ardent Haven fan must have feared the worst when Sheffield went in front on 53 minutes when a flowing move ended with Stan robin darting over and Aston adding a simple conversion.

Dogged Whitehaven hung on in but the end was in sight when prop Steve Thorpe charged over from short-range on 68 minutes and Aston’s conversion made it 14-22.

So it proved as Nathan Chappell and Garry Lo scored late tries against a tiring Whitehaven defence, with Aston improving one of them.