Whitehaven turned the formbook upside down with a superb 40-26 win at second-in-the-table Sheffield Eagles.
Sheffield were second best for long periods to a vibrant Whitehaven side who gave one of, if not the best, performance of the season.
Yet they got off to the worst possible start, conceding an unconverted try to Bayley Liu after only four minutes.
But on 11 minutes they were in front. On the back of two penalties, one for a high tackle, they got good field position and Curtis Teare went in for the try which Josh Rourke converted.
A great break from Chris Taylor set Haven on the attack again and they built on that to score a second try on 15 minutes. Fittingly, after his earlier work it was Taylor who finished off a smart handling move and Rourke again added the extras.
But Sheffield responded well and two quick tries from Bishop Jones, one converted by Cory Aston put them 14-12 ahead.
It was Whitehaven, though, who finished the half the stronger. Daniel Spencer-Tonks was virtually pushed over the line to get the ball down and put the Cumbrians ahead with Rourke adding the extras.
Then three minutes before the break Rourke scored a splendid solo effort and added the conversion for a 24-14 lead at the break.
Two minutes into the second-half Whitehaven received a penalty for a late hit and Rourke took the opportunity to add two more points to the tally.
When they were awarded another penalty for a tip tackle on 49 minutes Rourke again went for the two points and was successful.
Rourke was having a super game for Haven and on 54 minutes he spotted a gap, went through it and then round Bishop-Jones for a great try which he converted for a 34-14 lead.
Sheffield needed to get back into the game and they were given a life-line just after the hour when Liu shot through to touchdown and Aston added the conversion.
Then on 69 minutes, the Eagles worked a move from a scrum and Izaac Farrell powered over. Aston’s conversion cut the deficit to eight points.
However Whitehaven showed great resilience to hold out the follow-up efforts from the Eagles and on 75 minutes scored the clinching try as Ryan King powered over and Rourke added the extras.
Whitehaven’s off-the-field problems have been well documented but there was not the slightest sign of it affecting the players in this outstanding display.
