Sunday’s thousand plus gate at the Recreation Ground could be repeated for both of Whitehaven’s remaining home games.

An attendance of 1,102 saw Whitehaven consolidate top spot with a 16-10 win over Oldham, and might well be topped for the last two League One fixtures.

The derby clash with Workington Town on August 4 could even be 1,500 plus, although the final game is a bit less attractive, West Wales Raiders on September 1.

That will be Whitehaven’s final League One game at the Recreation Ground before they complete the fixtures at Coventry Bears.

Chairman Tommy Todd said: “It would be great if we could be in a position where we have to beat West Wales to win the league so that would guarantee a four-figure crowd.

“I have to say that we were all delighted to top a thousand for the visit of Oldham. That was what we were asking for before the game and the fans responded, so a big thank you to them for that.

“It was just a wonderful day. The crowd figure, the team performance and the result made it a bit special. But nobody is getting carried away. We are top but there are six games to go and anything can still happen.

“Looking at the fixtures Newcastle, who are now our nearest rivals, do appear to have an easier run in with the possible exception of Oldham away from home.

“They also have to go to Keighley, which could be awkward but we have to go there ourselves.

“There’s one thing certain. We are in a much better position than we were this time last year when all the concerns were on surviving. After that the best we could hope for this season would be a play-off place, but here we are three quarters of the way through the fixtures and top of the league.

Whitehaven, who re-signed Ellis Gillam from Rochdale last week (he played the whole 80 minutes against Oldham) are still on the look-out to strengthen their squad. Moves have been made to try and bring-in a young prop forward currently with a Super League club.

There are still concerns over three second rowers, currently sidelined. Jake Moore is planning to return by the end of the month for the trip to Hunslet; Brett Phillips may be out for another three weeks recovering from a fractured eye socket while veteran Scott McAvoy is still awaiting the result of a knee scan.

Whitehaven travel to Featherstone on Sunday to play Doncaster and Jessie Joe Parker could be back in the squad at a ground he knows well as a former Rovers player.