Blazing sun in the capital on Saturday didn’t stop Whitehaven from registering a fine 28-6 win over London Skolars to stay top of League One.

Temperatures soared to near record June levels to make life tough for both sets of players, who earned high praise from fans of both persuasions.

But Whitehaven chairman Tommy Todd said if it had been any hotter there might have been a case for “health and safety issues” to take effect.

“I can’t recall watching a game of rugby league in England when the temperatures were so high,” said Todd.

“In the stand, in the shade, where we watched the game from it was 33 degrees. Out on the pitch it was 36 to 37 and as you can imagine conditions were baking.

“I thought our coaches were very sensible in keeping the lads out of the dressing room but in the shade at half-time, using ice and wet towels to cool them down.

“Fortunately, although there were a few red faces at the end of the game, nobody seems to have suffered any real problems from playing for 80 minutes in blazing hot conditions,” said Todd.

The victory keeps Whitehaven top of League One by a point from Oldham Roughyeds who visit the Recreation Ground on Sunday.

“We went into the game without five of our regulars but the response was brilliant from everyone involved. It was a real team effort and you couldn’t really pick-out a man of the match.

“Under those gruelling conditions our fitness levels showed-up really well. Skolars definitely tired in the second-half and I think, perhaps, it was only the last 10 minutes when we showed any signs of fatigue,” said the chairman.