Whitehaven survived another late scare to collect two more points and retain second spot in League One.

While it wasn’t quite as close at York a week earlier, Haven did seem in control again with a 19-point advantage going into the last quarter against Doncaster.

But the visitors came back to score three tries and make it a tense finish at the Recreation Ground.

Player-coach Carl Forster, who had put in another big performance for his side, said: “I was just pleased we saw it through and overall I thought we deserved it.

“There were one or two things defensively around the ruck area we will need to look at during the week but, generally, we had played well enough until the last quarter.

“The group are together and the team spirit saw us through again and now we have three more games to look forward to until the end of the regulation season.”

Haven have to play Keighley and North Wales before the big one on July 16 at home to Barrow and which potentially is a shoot-out for second spot.

The 25-20 victory ensures that Whitehaven will finish in the top three as they still have only lost the one league game, against leaders Toronto Wolfpack.

“When I look at where we are now and how things were looking in the pre-season games, it’s been a great turnaround and the players have been magnificent. We just have to keep that going now right the way through to the end of the season,” said Forster.

But the injuries are starting to mount. Three players were absentees against Doncaster – Elliott Miller, Glenn Riley and Lewis Brown – who might all be available for the Barrow game.

Several players had to receive assistance when play was stopped against Doncaster and Forster will be looking anxiously towards the physio’s room at training this week.