Last updated at 13:07, Tuesday, 06 March 2012

Young full-back Shane Ackerley warned he wants to muscle in on Whitehaven’s league campaign after an impressive season’s debut against Barrow.

Shane Ackerley

The Recre product finally earned a weekend call-up against the Raiders after being close to selection in the previous two games. And he believes he did his hopes of keeping the shirt no harm ahead of the Championship One opener at Doncaster on Sunday.

“I had to take my chance and thought I did really well,” said Ackerley. “I’m training all the time and I am the fittest I’ve ever been.

“The scoreboard didn’t reflect the game and how we all gave 100 per cent. All the lads are gelling and we just have to kick on now. We are improving week by week and the lads are giving their all in training. There’s a good buzz around them.”

Ackerley, recently linked with a loan move to Gateshead Thunder, moved up the pecking order after Craig Benson left the club.,

“He is like a heart with arms and legs,” said Gailer. “He had a go.”

Ackerley is now in competition with ex-Widnes man Jonny Youds for the full-back role.

Skipper Lee Doran will miss the trip to the Keepmoat after taking an early guilty plea over a punching charge. He was caught up in a big bust-up in last week’s west Cumbrian derby at Workington.

If Doran had contested the charge and been found guilty, he could have faced a two-match ban.

First published at 11:29, Tuesday, 06 March 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk