Whitehaven produced one of their best performances of the season in a 30-24 win at Midlands Hurricanes.
The two sides had drawn when they met earlier in the season at the Ortus Rec but it was Haven who stepped up to win the return.
The West Cumbrians had put themselves in the driving seat with a commanding first half in which they built a 16-4 lead which they extended in the second period.
There were late concerns when Midlands finished strongly, scoring three tries in the last six minutes but Whitehaven held on to record a deserved win.
The victory lifted them above local rivals Workington Town into 14th and two points better off but Town have a game in hand against county rivals Barrow this afternoon.
Whitehaven have been guilty of some slow starts this season but not on this occasion as they went ahead after only six minutes with a try from Ellison Holgate which Cieran Walker converted.
Walker then added a penalty before going in for a try on 22 minutes, added the conversion. He put over a second penalty to set up a 16-0 lead.
The Hurricanes only reduced the arrears just before half-time with an unconverted try by Matty Chrimes.
Walker and Chrimes exchanged tries in the first ten minutes of the second-half with both being converted, which took the Haven lead to 22-10.
Ethan Bickerdike went in for the fourth Haven try 58 minutes, converted by Walker and a penalty by the half-back extended the visitors lead before Midlands fought back strongly.
Aidan McGowan (2) and Zach Jebson scored tries but crucially Sully Medforth could only improve one of them and it was Haven who went home with the points.
