Last updated at 20:29, Thursday, 19 July 2012

Workington Town are certainly showing a winning mentality these days.

The team looks likely to achieve an important promotion this year that will set it up, playing at a higher level, for the foreseeable future.

And this week, rugby league World Cup organisers confirmed a successful bid by the Derwent Park club to stage tournament matches here in 2013.

This is wonderful news after the boot was put into earlier plans to stage games at Whitehaven’s ill-fated Pow Beck stadium.

Instead of allowing the World Cup to disappear from West Cumbria altogether, Town officials had a scrum down with Allerdale council and Britain’s Energy Coast to work out a new bid.

It is only right that matches should be staged in one of rugby league’s most fervent heartlands; Town have a massive tradition and the local amateur game remains very strong.

Money will now be spent to upgrade Derwent Park ready for the showpiece. TV coverage will showcase the improved stadium.

We can look forward to welcoming visiting teams and supporters who will spend money in local hotels, shops and restaurants.

And, as Town chairman Dave Bowden says, there is a chance to spread the benefits of rugby league, and sport in general, among local youngsters.

This has been a fine example of our community fighting together to achieve a fantastic result.

First published at 19:20, Thursday, 19 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk