Whitehaven are conducting their own inquiry into the delayed start against Workington Town on Sunday.

Play was delayed for an hour and a quarter while the medical kit was brought up to date.

The doctor had arrived late and he had to leave the ground and obtain replacement kit so the game could get under way.

Chairman Tommy Todd said: “It was unfortunate and we are now making our own investigation into just who was responsible.

“We had over 900 in the ground but about 20 people asked for their money back because they had work commitments and couldn’t stay.”

Meanwhile, coach Carl Forster is recovering from a full 80-minute shift after which he was left battered and bruised.

Forster had been struggling during the week with illness but, with squad numbers depleted, led from the front.

“I was feeling it afterwards but we had so many players unavailable I needed to get out there," he said.

“Scott McAvoy did the same. He wasn’t going to play but he put his hand up to help out and that’s just typical of him.

“Overall, I thought there was improvement from the last game against Workington. We competed well enough but paid for four mistakes which gave them tries.

“It’s not where we want to be yet, of course, but I’m sure we just need a win to get us going.

“We go to West Hull in the Challenge Cup on Saturday and it’s important we go with the right attitude."

“It will be their Cup final, amateurs against semi-professional, and for 80 minutes, I’m sure they will be really putting it in," added Forster.

“The way we approach the game will be key and that’s something that we will be putting across in our two training sessions this week."

Connor Holliday has completed his one-match ban and will return to the squad but there’s bad news about former Wigan starlet Jake Moore.

He suffered a broken hand in the derby game on Sunday and will miss the start of the league season.