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New Whitehaven head coach Kyle Amor has praised his depleted team after victory in his first game in charge amid turmoil at the Championship club.

The former St Helens forward saw Whitehaven win 18-10 away to Dewsbury Rams despite only having 14 players available.

The troubled Cumbrian side had faced a player revolt amid financial uncertainty at the club, with players initially refusing to take part in the final six games of the season.

Haven only confirmed that they could field a team in west Yorkshire on Thursday, but they managed to hold off the Championship's bottom side.

"I'm just delighted," said Amor. "I'm immensely proud. I'm really, really buzzing."

Whitehaven-born Amor, a regular pundit and co-commentator on TV for live Super League games, was brought in as predecessor Jonty Gorley resigned last Monday, the day after a win over Doncaster.

But the 37-year-old was able to coax a performance out of his players with Whitehaven only having one replacement on the bench compared to their opponent's full complement of four.

The win relegated Dewsbury to League One and saw Whitehaven climb out of the relegation zone above Swinton Lions, with five games to play.

"To do what we've done there is the gutsiest thing I've seen," he told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Cumbria.

"14 players - the game's tough with 17. Each and everyone of them should be applauded.

"They need to enjoy the admiration that comes their way but they need to understand that's one step. We've got another five to go."