Whitehaven’s game at Goole Vikings was delayed by 80 minutes after a suspected grenade was found beforehand on the pitch.
But it was the West Cumbrians who produced an explosive finish to score three tries in the last eight minutes which sealed a 36-22 victory.
They had been looking at a 22-12 deficit before the superb finish earned them a first away win of the season lifting them level with neighbours Town and leapfrogging Goole in the process.
After the delay to the start it was Goole who scored first when a slick handling move put Connor Barley over in the corner and Jack Miller landed the conversion.
On 20 minutes Haven were level when they moved the ball wide from a scrum and Barrow loanee Seth Woodend went in with Cieran Walker landing the conversion.
However, by half time, Goole had established a 16-6 advantage.
Barley scored his second from almost a replica move to his first and Alex Holdstock ploughed over for the third, two of them converted by Miller.
Three minutes into the second-half Whitehaven scored their second try through Leigh loanee Oliver Polec and Walker was on target again.
It was Goole who scored again, though, two minutes later when they profited from a knock-on, going over on the third tackle in the set through Nick Staveley.
Miller’s conversion restored their 10-point lead.
The winning fightback started on 68 minutes when a six-again for Whitehaven ended with Walker going in for a try which he converted.
On 72 minutes a good kick from Walker was chased by Ethan Bickerdike who got there first to touchdown. Walker’s conversion nudged them ahead for the first time.
Four minutes later big Brad Brennan crashed over for the fifth try, converted by Walker and in the last minute Dave Eccleston won a chase from Walker’s kick to get the final try. Walker’s kick gave him six out of six.
Today, Humberside police said: “Officers were called to Victoria Pleasure Ground in Goole on Sunday, April 12, to reports of a possible grenade being found in the area.
“A cordon was in place at the time whiled a specialist team were called to examine the item.
“Upon inspection the suspected grenade was found to be a non-explosive replica and was safely removed from the area.”
The suspected grenade was found near the ground’s athletics track which surrounds the pitch following a routine pre-match safety inspection.
he Goole club said: “The response from all parties involved was swift, co-ordinated and highly professional.
“The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to the club management, emergency services and local authority partners for their exceptional management of a highly unusual situation.”
