WHITEHAVEN chief executive Lee Butterworth says knocking Barrow off their perch as self-proclaimed kings of Cumbria should be a driving force for both his club and their arch-rivals Workington.
The Ortus REC side proudly joined Barrow in the play-offs thanks to a win surge over the second half of the season.
Their ninth victory in twelve under up-and-coming coach James Newton came in the last match of the regular season at the expense of Workington, beaten 29-20 at their Fibrus Community Stadium.
It sealed a final position of ninth after Whitehaven were 17th when their former hooker stepped up from assistant to succeed Anthony Murray after he left in early March.
Newton’s side lost 36-4 in their play-off elimination tie against Midlands in Birmingham on Saturday, with the 34-year-old believing his players will benefit greatly from the experience going forward.
“We’re a young, locally-built side, with the bulk of the lads in only their first or second seasons in the semi-professional game,” he explained.
“To have gone on the kind of run we did and reached the play-offs, especially with the league having been reconstructed, is an awesome achievement, and will stand us in good stead.”
Whitehaven businessman Butterworth became chief executive in September of last year as part of a board restructure.
He has enjoyed the recent Barrow social-media banter, and after the Workington derby, said: “Both of us need to step up and end their kings of Cumbria craic.
“We’re working hard to get closer to where Barrow are at and to copy some of the really good things Workington are doing in the community.
“James has done a terrific job since he took over and there’s more to come.”