Workington boss Dave Clark said he was very proud of his players despite Town’s top five hopes ending with defeat at Keighley.

Despite falling to a 28-6 defeat, with Joe Hambley recording Town’s lone try, the visitors competed throughout against the odds.

Not only were the Cougars favourites, with the hosts needing to win for their own play-off chances but both sides also had to play in horrendous weather conditions.

Most importantly, Workington were playing with less personnel throughout most of the game as they picked up three more injuries.

A concussed Danny Rasool was taken to hospital as a precaution with Stuart Howarth limping off with a re-occurrence of an ankle injury, and Clark also revealed that Macauley Davies picked up a groin strain.

And Clark was keen to give his players praise for their second half efforts despite their injury woes worsening once again.

“I’m very proud of our players’ performances, especially in the second half,” said Clark. “If we come with the mentality that we had in the second half then we can cause some problems to Whitehaven next weekend.

“It was always going to be difficult coming here with their enthusiasm, their home ground for the last game of the season and they’ve got two players retiring.

"Coming in at 16-6 at half time, I thought we were unlucky a couple of times. I thought the players reacted well and put in a solid second half performance.”

Town are now the only side going into the final weekend of the season without a chance of gaining a promotion play-off spot.

However, Clark believes the 2017 campaign will stand them in better stead for next year.

“I think we’ve learnt a lot this year," he added. "I’ve learned myself because it’s my first year. It’s been a testing time for the club.

"There’s some players here who are asking a lot of questions which is what you want.

“I think the club know what they need to do for next year. If they give us a bit more in certain parts of the field then we’ll be a different team next year.”