Last updated at 12:08, Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Workington Town joint coach Gary Charlton reflected on the 20-8 Championship defeat to fancied Halifax and declared: “We really weren’t that far away.”

Gary Charlton

After the Derwent Park dust had settled, Charlton, who was full of praise for his players after they snatched a late bonus point with a 45-metre penalty from Carl Forber, said: “Ninety per cent of the time our defence was excellent but Halifax capitalised on a couple of our errors and ended up with a couple of tries to swing the game their way.

“We had a few sets on their line and we have to be more clinical. We should have asked a few more questions and didn’t find the final pass when we needed it.

“There were a lot of positives to take from the game and we all thought that we could have been a bit closer. I don’t think 20-8 did enough justice to our lads but we will learn from this.”

Charlton is hoping to have Jason Mossop, who missed Sunday’s clash with a twisted ankle, back in squad, while young prop Jamie Acton, who has now finished a four-match ban, will come into contention.

“Jason should be back to beef up the back line,” added Charlton. “And Jamie [Acton] will come into the fray.

“He’s trained hard and looked after himself and it will be good to see what he can do in a Workington Town shirt.

“Kris Coward should also be back after missing Sunday with flu, but Graeme Mattinson and Elliott Miller are still several weeks away. When those two get fit it will give us plenty of options.”

Town travel to the Keepmoat Stadium on Sunday to take on last season’s Championship one champions Doncaster.

The Dons recorded a 14-4 win at Barrow Raiders on Sunday after losing their opening game 22-16 at home to Dewsbury.

• Whitehaven’s Dave Houghton has been named the Premier Sports Championship Player of the Week and heads the Player of the Year table after two games.

Team-mate Cain Southernwood was also named in the Premier Sports Team of the Week, along with Workington Town’s Peter Lupton.

Premier Sports team of the week: 1 Lee Waterman (Doncaster), 2 Tom Lineham (York City Knights), 3 Steve Tyrer (Halifax), 4 Scott Hale (Dewsbury Rams), 5 Jonny Pownall (Leigh Centurions), 6 Peter Lupton (Workington Town), 7 Cain Southernwood (Whitehaven), 8 Dave Houghton (Whitehaven), 9 Kyle Kesik (Doncaster), 10 James Lockwood (Featherstone Rovers), 11 Jack Bussey (Featherstone Rovers), 12 Peter Green (Sheffield Eagles), 13 Sam Hopkins (Leigh Centurions)

Week Two Player of the Week points: 5 points – Dave Houghton (Whitehaven), 4 points – Lee Waterman (Doncaster), 3 points – Jack Bussey (Featherstone Rovers), 2 points – Peter Green (Sheffield Eagles), 1 point – Steve Tyrer (Halifax)

Current Player of the Year table: 1 Dave Houghton (6 pts), 2 Aaron Brown (5 pts), 3 Miles Greenwood & Lee Waterman (4 pts), 5 Steve Crossley & Jack Bussey (3 pts), 7 Callum Phillips & Peter Green (2 pts), 9 Steve Tyrer (1 pt).

First published at 12:01, Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk