Whitehaven have lost another one of their winter recruits from the amateur game.

Tyrone Dalton, who joined from Kells, has been released to play again for the National Conference Premier League side.

He was in the Kells side which beat Pilkington Recs 25-18 on Saturday and capped his return with one of the tries.

Dalton, son of former Haven try-scoring hero the late Jimmy Dalton, had first sprung to prominence with Haven in 2010.

He skippered Whitehaven's reserve grade to Grand Final glory but, when Whitehaven went into administration shortly after, he returned to his roots at Kells.

After rejoining Haven in the winter, Dalton scored in the club’s narrow early-season Challenge Cup win at West Hull, but his opportunities have been limited since then.

Amanda Hewer, Whitehaven’s general manager said: “It’s unfortunate that Tyrone can’t go back to Kells on dual-registration because he’s not a first-year professional. He has been with us before but he’s a lad who wants to play every week.

“That’s why we reluctantly agreed to his release and he was able to return to Kells for their game on Saturday.”

Jake Moore, Troy Armstrong, Johnny Scott and Shane Ackerley have all signed on for Haven this season but have since been released to return to amateur rugby.

Moore, subsequently, joined Workington Town after a stint with his former club Wath Brow.

Whitehaven chairman Tommy Todd said: “It’s disappointing that, having made an effort to recruit local talent, quite a few of them have since left the club.

“Nobody can guarantee anybody – experienced or inexperienced – a regular place in the starting line-up. It doesn’t work like that. All we ask is for lads to fight for their place and take their chance when they get it.”

Lewis Brown, Aidan Worthington and Kurt Maudling are three of the local winter signings who remain part of the League One squad.