Workington Zebras ready for Kirkby tester
Last updated 13:10, Friday, 14 November 2008
Having seen at first-hand the power and potential of leaders Vale of Lune, Workington get ready to take-on second-placed Kirkby Lonsdale tomorrow.
Back-to-back matches against the best North Lancs Cumbria has to offer are proving a test of the Zebras’ ability to make an impression themselves.
But having lost 29-6 at Lancaster last week, Workington are in the right frame of mind to take on Vale’s nearest challengers and improve their own fourth-place.
Team manager Kevin O’Neil said: “With all due respect to Kirkby Lonsdale and the rest I don’t think there’s much doubt as to who is going to win this League.
“The Vale look a bit special and a class above anything we’ve come across so far. I think it’s a certainty that they will go on and win the League.
“With that in mind, and considering we made our usual slow start, I thought we didn’t do too badly at all. It’s important we bounce right back this week. We noted how Kirkby Lonsdale did at Wigton, winning well and earning praise from coach Malcolm Brown for their ability to counter attack, so we know it won’t be easy.”
The Zebras will be without number eight David Bowe as he starts a six match suspension so brother Andrew moves to the back of the pack. Darren Watson comes into fill the hole in the back row.
There’s only one change in the backs with teenager Johnny Howarth coming in at full-back and Scott Campbell switching to wing with Bede O’Conner dropping to the bench.
Vale of Lune take-on another Cumbrian side tomorrow in the shape of a Wigton side who bounced back from that Kirkby Lonsdale side with a 31-16 win at Upper Eden last week.
Wigton coach Malcolm Brown spent four years at Vale of Lune in the 80’s when the Lancaster side had climbed into the top 20 in English rugby.
“We had seven or eight Cumbrians playing then and I remember one season playing Harlequins, Wasps and London Irish.
“The club has obviously gone back since those days, and is probably now at its lowest point but it appears to be making a big effort to make progress again.
“They have won every League game so far and clearly have some talented players so it’s going to be a tough one for us.
“We are going to make it something of a reunion day off the field because five of the county guys who played for Vale in the 80’s are coming along – Kenny Graham, Les Dent, Paul Hancock, Ian Sewell and Sam Hodgson.”
On the field David Warwick, Stuart Creighton and John Story are all available again and are added to the squad on duty at Kirkby Stephen.
Keswick are the third local side in action tomorrow in North Lancs Cumbria and they have a county derby against Upper Eden who are only one point and one place better off. Bottom of the table Keswick do have a match in hand, however.
Up in North Two there’s been a change of routine for Aspatria ahead of their big county derby tomorrow against Penrith.
The Black Reds will be training tonight – dispensing with the usual Thursday night session in a bid to have the players completely focused for the North Two East clash with their county rivals.
Chairman of rugby Mark Richardson said: “We decided to change things round this week. It’s a big game for us and we wanted to have the players completely focused on the game. We’ll see how it goes.
“If the players go into the game with the same attitude they showed at Old Crossleyans last week then we’ll be fine. We lost but the Halifax side went top with that win and couldn’t get over how well we had defended throughout the game.
“I don’t think there will be a lot of attacking, open rugby played and that’s likely to be dictated by the conditions.
“Penrith have some very good backs with players like Steven Wood, Martin Armstrong and Paul Newton and I’d like to think we might have the edge in the forwards.”
Lee Tinnion, Dan Rayson and Richard Holliday, who all missed last week’s game, are back in contention for the back division with Richard Miller added to the forwards.
Missing out, however, will; be stand-out forward Gary Hodgson who is starting a two match ban.
Matches in the Cumbria League are: Aspatria Eagles v Whitehaven; Cockermouth v Wigton Wanderers; Creighton v Workington Steelers; Egremont v Gosforth Greengarth; Moresby v St. Benedict’s; Netherhall v Millom.
