The Whitehaven and Barrow coaches say Sunday’s League One play-off final is brilliant for Cumbrian rugby.

Whitehaven travel to Barrow with the winner earning the right to join Toronto Wolfpack and earn promotion to the Championship.

“I think it’s great for rugby league in the area that two of our teams are meeting in the final game of the season to see who goes up," Whitehaven coach Carl Forster said after his side had won an exhausting semi-final with York.

“We have met twice at our place and it’s one win apiece.

"I thought we played really well and deserved to win the first. Barrow, on the other hand, were exceptional in the second game and were worthy winners.

“It’s all set up for a decider at their place and I am expecting a very hard, competitive game.

"Both clubs have set their sights on promotion but only one of us can go up this time.”

Paul Crarey, the Barrow coach, spoke on similar lines after his side had beaten Newcastle Thunder 60-0 at Craven Park in the other semi-final.

“It’s great for us and great for Cumbrian rugby league – and one of us will be going up to the Championship. We’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves for what will be a really tough battle up front," Crarey said.

Crarey had paid tribute to his half-backs after the demolition of in-form Newcastle with Jamie Dallimore collecting 26 points from two tries and nine goals, while Lewis Charnock also scored a try and made several others.

“Jamie was outstanding. I thought it was his best performance for us as a half-back in recent weeks and he stepped up to the plate," he said.

“He tortured them with his kicking and his running game, and Lewis Charnock didn’t go under the radar either. He’s tough, he carried the ball well, opened them up and the running game caused them a lot of problems.

“But the big thing about them is they are both very tough and if you’ve got tough halves, you’re in business.”

Crarey had to go into the game without Nathan Mossop, Bradd Crellin and Martin Aspinwall who were all ruled out by a virus which looked like sweeping through the club.

“It’s about squad for us and we’ve only used 28 players throughout the year, and whenever others have come in they’ve done a job for us,” said the Barrow coach.