John Walsh

Published at 01:00, Wednesday, 28 June 2006

By John Walsh

WORKINGTON coach Ged Stokes is asking his players to put some pride back into wearing a Town shirt when they pick up the pieces of a bitterly disappointing season on Sunday.

Town, who began the campaign seeking automatic promotion as NL2 champions, start a crucial month at home to Hunslet - one of four games they play against sides in the bottom four.

And after Sunday’s 46-30 horror show at Swinton, when Town surrendered a 30-12 half-time lead, Stokes is demanding a response in a bid to propel them towards the play-off positions.

“I was gutted and really I’m still devastated by what happened. The players say they were equally disgusted by the second-half collapse on Sunday–- and it’s up to them to show how much they were upset by the performance.

“They have to put some pride back into wearing their Workington shirt again.

“We can tell them what we expect and how we want them to play but once they go onto that field, it’s up to them,” said the Kiwi coach and former Town player.

Workington have yet to play anybody below the current play-off berths but in July play Blackpool (twice), London Skolars and Hunslet – as well as Sheffield.

“I was really looking forward to July with the fixtures we had lined up but after Sunday I’m not so sure. It’s all down to the players, though.

“I know the directors are equally devastated after all the effort and money they’ve put into the team. We are not in the position we expected to bein ,” admitted Stokes.

Town are fourth bottom, one point behind Sunday’s opponents Hunslet with a game in hand.

“A win would move us to just one place off the play-offs and give us something to aim for. A good July would put us right back in the hunt for a top seven place, which has to be our target.

“I still believe in the players we have at Derwent Park but they have to deliver on Sunday. We can’t afford to lose another home game,” said Stokes.

Town should have South African second-row forward Weldon Saayman back in contention

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