Whitehaven chairman Tommy Todd is confident the town has a team the fans can believe in.

Todd, who was praising the side after Sunday’s 18-16 win at York, says the supporters hold the key to continued success on the field.

He said: “It is so important that the stay-away fans return to give us their backing as we approach the back end of the regulation season, and the eights which lie ahead.

“We set our stall out to try and be ultra competitive and up there contesting our place back in the Championship.

“So far, we are on course, lying second in the table with 10 wins from 11 matches, and producing some very good rugby."

“There’s a terrific spirit in the team, and that’s under-pinning our performances. The lads are enjoying playing for Whitehaven,” he added.

“But, despite the pluses on the playing side, our gates continue to fall below what we are looking for and we do need them to improve over the remaining games.”

Haven host Doncaster on Sunday when a boost in the crowd figure would probably be more welcome than another home win.

The narrow victory at York was deserved, even though Carl Forster’s team needed a huge slice of luck to hang onto their advantage.

“In all my time of watching rugby league, I don’t think there’s been a match in which three penalty attempts late in the game, from almost an identical spot, were all missed," said the chairman.

“Lady luck was certainly with us when we needed her on Sunday. We just couldn’t believe it when all three kicks went wide.

“However, I have to say that overall we deserved the win. We had gone 18-4 ahead playing some really good rugby before going off the boil, and nearly paid for it.

“But in actual fact we wasted three good chances to score further tries or we could have been out of sight and not had to suffer the agonies over those late kicks."