Match Report | Whitehaven 4-11 Sheffield Eagles
18/01/2026
Written by Spencer Arnold
The Eagles secured a hard-fought 11-4 victory over Whitehaven in difficult and muddy conditions this afternoon, gaining two points in their opening game of the 2026 Championship campaign.
The opening half was scrappy, with few clear chances created. Whitehaven were the first to take advantage, when they opened the scoring in the 39th minute. A well-placed kick to the corner from Ciaran Walker created an opening which Mitchell Todd pounced on.
This try came shortly after the Eagles were denied a try just moments before after Josh Hodson thought he’d grounded the ball following a kick through, but the referee ruled that it had gone dead before the grounding.
The Eagles responded quickly and positively after the break, being rewarded when just three minutes into the second half, Kieran Gill levelled the score with a powerful try in the right corner on his debut for the club.
Not content with just the one try, Gill then scored his second in the 50th minute after catching a perfectly placed kick by former Bradford Bulls team mate Jordan Lilley.
Lilley attempted to extend the advantage with a drop-goal effort in the 62nd minute, but his first attempt bounced off both posts and back into play.
He tried to drop a goal once again five minutes later, this time successfully slotting his kick through the sticks to push the Eagles’ lead out to 11–4.
Whitehaven were denied later when a potential try was disallowed in the closing stages, as the Eagles saw out the closing stages to claim a big win in testing conditions.
Sheffield Eagles have a few days to prepare before welcoming Whitehaven back at home turf on next Saturday when the two sides meet in the Betfred Challenge Cup 2nd Round (2:30pm KO).
Whitehaven RLFC: Walker-Taylor, Eccleston, Burns, Bickerdike, Todd, Walker, Newbegin, Thomson, Holgate, Shackley, McQuistan, Holliday, Kellett
Interchanges (all used): Turnbull, Brennan, Pearce, Bailey
18th man: Brown
Tries: Todd (39’)
Sheffield Eagles: Marsh, Brown, Gill, Hodson, Walkley, Morgan, Lilley, Matongo, Bowes, Reilly, Bower, Farrell, Bussey
Interchanges (all used): Fitzsimmons, Johnson, Griffin, Peachey
18th man: Foster
Tries: Gill (43’, 50’)
Goals: Lilley (1/2)
Drop Goal: Lilley (67’)
Referee: K. Moore
