Coach Phil Veivers insisted all the plaudits should go to his players as a Perry Whiteley hat-trick inspired Town survived the late sin-binning of Jarrod Sammut to cling on and gain a potentially crucial first away win of the season against at Sheffield Eagles.

Bottom of the Kingstone Press Championship Workington overcame no shortage of adversity - the late withdrawal of captain Graeme Mattinson, plus injuries to Brett Carter, Liam McAvoy and Matty Gee.

Yet twice they managed to build an 18-point lead before weathering a nervous late surge from their South Yorkshire opponents.

Veivers, all but once previously this season speaking of disappointments, emerged from the victorious visiting changing room and beamed:

“I’m really pleased for the players and the fans that we’ve got a result.

“They’ve put a lot of hard work in over the last four weeks.

“There have been improvements as we’ve gone along and we aimed up really good today.

“We set ourselves goals for the next three weeks and winning here was one of those.

“We felt we could get the two points here but we felt the same at Halifax last time out, only to start slowly and come home with a wet sail.

“This time we built a substantial lead and then scored a try while we were down to 12 men, so that’s credit to my players - from one to 17 they all contributed today.

“We’ve had enough losses this year to realise that one swallow doesn’t make a summer but it is an important win for us and we now have an eight day turn-around to get ready for the next game at home to Batley.”

Town remain four points adrift of neighbours Whitehaven at the foot of the league ladder but Veivers pointed out:

“We just have to concentrate on the next game and if we get the results we’re after, the table will take care of itself.

“Swinton proved that - they went seven without a win and then won five on the bounce.”

“That’s attainable and we’ve pretty much done it the last two years - we’re slow starters but we’ve put a run together.

“This doesn’t get us out of trouble but we’re playing some good footy and it puts us in a good place to take on Batley.”