WHITEHAVEN have pulled out of Sunday’s warm-up game with Barrow Raiders at Craven Park.

Too many injuries, and other enforced absences, mean Haven would not have been able to field a full, competitive squad.

Chairman Tommy Todd said: “It’s very unfortunate, but from a squad of 22 players we have at least seven who are unable to play.

“We went into the game with Swinton on Sunday with just two substitutes, and that was probably why we lost it in the end to two late tries.

“I understand the Barrow pitch is a bit like ours – left like a mud-bath after Sunday.”

Barrow beat League One side Oldham 16-6 in their second warm-up game at the weekend in heavy rain and cold, biting winds, while Haven were going down 18-10 to Swinton.

Barrow now face the prospect of a blank weekend ahead of the start of their Championship campaign at London Broncos on Sunday, February 4.

Whitehaven will be looking to have as many of the absentees as possible back for the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy match with Workington a week on Sunday.

“We have just been unlucky at this stage of the season with injuries and illness which have seriously disrupted the squad,” said chairman Todd

“Also, we are still waiting for visa up-dates from Jessie Joe (Parker) and Dion (Aiye). We obviously want them here as soon as possible.”

Haven winger Phil Lister, who scored in Sunday’s defeat by Swinton, is being rested for a couple of weeks with an ankle problem.

Skipper Marc Shackley and new forward Lewis Reece also picked up knocks in the Lions game.

Karl Olstrom has a shoulder injury, which kept him out of action, while Jack Cottington is still recovering from a knock he took at Widnes.

Stuart Howarth is only in light training after surgery on his elbow, while Connor Holliday has not played in either warm-up game so far because of an elbow injury, and Jason Mossop is just back in training after spending a few days in hospital.