Last updated at 11:52, Thursday, 19 July 2012

The Workington Town signing spree kept on rolling last night as they secured highly-rated Karl Olstrum for another two years.

Karl Olstrum

The news comes the day after Town retained prop/second-rower Marc Shackley as the club builds for the future that should see them playing Championship rugby next season.

Former Wath Brow amateur star Olstrum, 20, a centre/loose-forward, has scored five tries this season and has been a huge part of Town’s Championship One table-topping squad.

“I’m very happy to have signed for another two years,” said Olstrum, who originally joined from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. “They’re a great bunch of lads and I’m looking forward to the next two seasons with Town. I always wanted to stay and I am delighted to have got a new deal.”

Town chairman Dave Bowden added: “Karl’s shown this season just what he’s capable of and we are delighted to have re-signed another local player who has got better while he has been with us. He was a very good prospect as a junior and he has continued to improve.

“We have continued with our strategy of keeping young, local players. Karl enjoys his rugby at Town and his potential is there to be seen.”

Olstrum was a member of the successful National Youth League title-winning West Cumbria Under-18s which was coached by current Town assistant coach Craig ‘Butch’ Barker. At the time of his signing in October 2010, Bowden praised Barker for bringing Olstrum to Town.

CHAMPIONSHIP ONE POINT SCORERS AFTER 13 ROUNDS

TRIES

1 Elliott Miller (Workington Town) 20; 2 Lee Waterman (Doncaster) 18; 3 = Liam Campbell (Barrow) 14, Tom Hodson (Doncaster) 14, Craig Calvert (Whitehaven) 14; 6 Miles Greenwood (Oldham) 13; 7 Craig Fawcett (Doncaster) 12

GOALS

1 Tom Hodson (Doncaster) 49; 2 Dylan Skee (London) 39; 3 = Carl Rudd (Whitehaven) 35, Ryan Shaw (Barrow) 35; 5 Paul Crook (Rochdale) 32; 6 = Jamie Dallimore (Oldham) 29, Carl Forber (Workington) 29; 8 Marc Bainbridge (Workington) 28; 9 Tommy Johnson (North Wales Crusaders) 26; 10 Darren Holt (Barrow) 24

TOTAL POINTS

1 Tom Hodson (Doncaster) 154; 2 Dylan Skee (London) 98; 3 Paul Crook (Rochdale) 84; 4 Ryan Shaw (Barrow) 82; 5 Elliott Miller (Workington) 80; 6 = Carl Rudd (Whitehaven) 78, Lee Waterman (Doncaster) 78; 8 Jamie Dallimore (Oldham) 70; 9 = Marc Bainbridge (Workington) 61, Jamie Rooney (Whitehaven) 61 (inc 28 for South Wales Scorpions)

First published at 11:24, Thursday, 19 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk