By Martin Morgan

Last updated at 12:25, Thursday, 16 February 2012

Workington Town could be reinforced for Sunday’s trip to Barrow with four of their top performers in contention to return.

Kris Coward

Graeme Mattinson, Kris Coward, Jarrad Stack and Marc Shackley are all in the running to make the Northern Rail Cup trip to Craven Park.

The quartet were among a host of players to miss Town’s cup opener against Sheffield on Sunday, when a weakened Workington performed creditably against the Championship outfit, going down 28-14 after leading 14-6 at the break.

“It was very encouraging against Sheffield, considering the players we were missing,” said coach Gary Charlton, who paid tribute to conditioner Matthew Johnson for getting the squad fit for action this term. We are a lot further ahead fitness-wise than in previous years, and he deserves a pat on the back.

“Usually we want to peak at the back end of the year, but this time we need to be up and running and getting as much game time as possible. We’ll see how far we can go from there.”

Town drew at Barrow in Mike Whitehead’s testimonial game last month, when the Raiders fielded different teams in each half, and Charlton is discounting the result.

“I wouldn’t look in to that performance,” he said. “It was a good hit-out for us, but it will be more like the Workington Town team this weekend.”

Half-backs Peter Lupton and Marc Bainbridge are thought unlikely to be ready to return this weekend.

First published at 11:24, Thursday, 16 February 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk