Last updated at 12:15, Friday, 22 June 2012

Tane Manihera, the Kiwi veteran of many local derbies between Workington Town and Whitehaven, claims this Sunday’s clash between the Championship One promotion hopefuls is ‘too close to call’.

Jarrad Stack

Manihera, 37, had two spells with Town and played for Haven late in his career. He also had spells with Barrow and Widnes, his first club in England being Carlisle Border Raiders under coach Paul Charlton, father of Town’s current joint-coach Gary.

“The structure of the Town team is very similar to the kind of teams Paul Charlton liked – a big pack and mobile backs,” said Manihera.

“Gary’s got a very big, mobile pack at Town and, with the likes of danger man Jarrad Stack and some great signings, it’s going to be a fierce battle out there on Sunday.

“Haven have their own stars with classy Carl Rudd playing well. Carl does things that you can’t coach – it’s just natural ability,” added Manihera who is no stranger to the rugby league terraces in west Cumbria now that he has hung up his boots.

“And I also see Craig Calvert as a big threat. He’s not getting any younger but hasn’t lost any of his pace,.

“With speedy Loz Hamzat in the Haven side, and Andreas Bauer making the full-back position his own, there’s everything to fight for.

“With bragging rights at stake, it’s going to be a very interesting clash.”

With four guaranteed promotion to the Championship this summer, Town are currently second in Championship One, with Haven fourth, five points clear of Oldham.

First published at 11:27, Friday, 22 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk