Wakefield Trinity raise incredible amount for struggling Whitehaven

Championship leaders Wakefield Trinity have raised over £10,000 for strugglers Whitehaven in an incredible gesture.

Trinity owner Matt Ellis had confirmed that all money raised from ticket sales would be donated to the Cumbrian outfit with bucket collections also placed around the ground as Wakefield hosted Haven on Sunday.

It’s now been confirmed that the total figure raised was £12,000, a massively significant amount that will allow Haven to complete the season according to their head coach Kyle Amor.

Whitehaven would lose the match 60-6 which is of no shame considering the disparity in the two clubs and the fact the Cumbrian side travelled to Wakefield with just 15 men, however, Amor was more focused on the generosity of Trin.

Speaking post-match to the BBC, he said: “I want to applaud Wakefield for that they’ve done.

“It probably allows us to finish the season now with what we’ve got, which is 15 players.

“What Matt Ellis has done for us as a club in our hour of need, he didn’t really have to do that.

“He’s been able to generate some ticket money and some donation money that is probably going to help us through to the end of the year.”

Wakefield gesture could save Whitehaven

Whitehaven have had a rollercoaster past few weeks with their head coach standing down amidst off-field issues created by financial difficulties. Shortly after Kyle Amor’s appointment, the players were said to have stepped down and refused to play the season out.

That was resolved with Amor uniting the group and they put in an incredible performance with just 14 men to beat Dewsbury but the weekend’s loss to Wakefield has seen them slip back into the relegation zone.

With the money provided by Trinity, it now means that there is certainty that Haven can complete the season and with that, they at least give themselves a chance of staying in the division.

They face a tough gauntlet of fixtures though with their three remaining games as they face Cumbrian rivals Barrow Raiders next week before taking on Batley Bulldogs and fellow financially troubled side Halifax Panthers.

As for Wakefield, they wrapped up the League Leaders Shield a couple of weeks ago and they will be looking ahead to try and win the Championship Grand Final once the play-offs come around.