Last updated at 12:09, Tuesday, 07 August 2012

Workington Town joint coach Gary Charlton admitted that Sunday’s postponement of the game at Gateshead Thunder hasn’t helped his side’s preparation for Sunday’s massive clash with Barrow Raiders, but he is confident that his players can rise to the challenge.

Gary Charlton

Town take on Championship One leaders Barrow at Derwent Park (3pm ko) in a match that has been dubbed as the ‘title decider’. Victory for Workington, and the denial of a bonus point for the Raiders, would put Town in the driving seat for the £50,000 winner-take-all prize.

“It would have been nice to get the new lads (Chris Annakin and Adam Walne) up and running but the referee and the match commissioner made the right decision,” said Charlton.

“I’ve never seen rain like it. It was dry when we arrived at the stadium but 45 minutes later, the pitch was covered in water. They are the sort of conditions where you can pick up injuries.

“We were all disappointed that the game didn’t go ahead but the lads know what they need to do against Barrow on Sunday.

“We’re on home soil and know how well we can play. They give 100 per cent every game and, with the great support we have, we can do a job.

“I am sure Barrow will be bringing a big support with them. All derbies are big games but this one is even bigger.”

A win for Barrow, who beat Oldham 42-16, on Sunday will almost certainly secure the title.

But Raiders coach Darren Holt is taking nothing for granted, and referring to Sunday’s postponement, said: “Sometimes it works in your favour, sometimes it doesn’t. But we don’t have to worry about what they [Town] are up to. We have to look after ourselves, so we will have a big week ahead and regroup.

“There is still stuff to work on ahead of the game at Workington. We have to be happy with the score against Oldham. Putting 40-odd points on a team who have beaten us twice this season is something to be happy about,” he added.

Holt, who decided to rest the likes of Chris Larkin and one or two other regulars, did not pick up any extra injuries and expects to be able to take a full-strength team to Derwent Park.

• Town’s Jamie Thackray will face no further action after being placed on report following the defeat at Doncaster. An early guilty plea for the Grade A offence was accepted and Thackray will be available for Sunday.

First published at 11:25, Tuesday, 07 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk