One of Whitehaven’s landmark victories has been commemorated in a limited stock of lapel badges.

It will soon be 60 years since Whitehaven beat the touring Australians 14-11 at the Recreation Ground and the club has marked the occasion.

A limited supply of just 100 of the badges have gone on sale at the club’s office on the ground and demand among supporters is expected to be high.

The 1956/57 tour by the Aussies, who were led by the legendary full-back Clive Churchill, was a gruelling undertaking as they played 20 games in two months. Even then they finished off with eight more games in France in less than a month.

Their visit to the Recreation Ground was the fifth game into the tour and was played on October 20, 1956. They actually played 15 club sides on the English leg of the tour.

Whitehaven beat the Australian tourists in front of a crowd of 10,917 at the Recreation Ground.

Later that season the club came within minutes of a Wembley appearance when they lost 10-9 to Leeds in a Challenge Cup semi-final before a 50,000 crowd at Odsal.

The badge, designed by club director Mark Samper, has an outline of Australia, the score and club colours within two rugby balls.