Last updated at 12:21, Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Workington Town will not strike fear in to improving North Wales Crusaders on Sunday, pledged coach Clive Griffiths – despite the newcomers suffering an 11-try mauling at Derwent Park in April.

The new Welsh club have shown a steady improvement in their debut season, and after giving league leaders Barrow Raiders a scare at the weekend, before going down 40-24 at Craven Park, they cannot wait to host Town ahead of back-to-back games against struggling Gateshead.

“It’s a big three weeks for us,” said Griffiths. “Any home game is of a benefit for us. It’s great to have two back-to-back games but both will be difficult.

“We are still building as a club but Workington have already built their side. They want to get promoted this year and they won’t want us to come in and spoil their party.

“We’ll be trying our best because up there they took us to the cleaners. However we knew we came so close to beating Barrow last week and the boys are now looking forward to taking on Workington this Sunday, where a few months ago there would be trepidation.”

Town are now 13 points clear of Rochdale, who lie fifth in Championship One, and with four teams promoted this term, they are close to securing a place in the second tier next year.

The Cumbrians beat Crusaders 58-0 in their last meeting, Dave Petersen, Elliott Miller and Brett Carter all crossing twice.

But with 11 points from 10 games, and outings against winless Thunder in the pipeline, the Welsh still have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs, so will not lack incentive against Workington.

“Anyone who thinks Gateshead are pushovers are wrong,” Griffiths added. “I’ve watched them play a number of times now on video and yes they have frailties in defence, but by damn they can play.

“They can score good tries. I saw the DVD of their game against Barrow from a few weeks back and they carved Barrow up a few times. They’ve got some good players and they’ll be looking at the game on July 8 to get their season off to a winning start.

“We’ve got two humdingers in the next two weeks and there will be no flag of complacency flying over the Racecourse for either.”

First published at 11:29, Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk