» News Archive 9

Summer Rugby debate is re-opened.

Gary Murdock has led calls this week for the return to summer rugby. Town had both first team matched called off this week as well as the Alliance match for 20/1/01.

Murdock's frustration was made even worse because the team have been unable to train on a regular basis over the past fortnight.

The Derwent Park pitch and the training pitch are both frozen, while a lack of proper training facilities has seen the squad train only once this week in the Workington Leisure centre.

Gary warned that had to be a change to summer rugby soon as it was costing premiership clubs too much money.

He said "it's shambolic that all of these games are being called off and it emphasises the need to return to summer rugby."

"I think we should play from February until October, with our Grand Final the week before the Super League Grand Final."

"If we keep going like this we will be playing lots of mid-week games to catch up with the backlog and with floodlights and everything it costs the club a lot of money."

"There is a swell of opinion for summer rugby and clubs in the premiership simply cannot afford to have big games called off. Our Boxing Day tie with Whitehaven was called off and luckily we got a crowd of 2,500 for the rearranged match, but who knows how many we might have got on Boxing Day. Fans will support you any time if you give then something to support."

Rumney expected to make starting debut

If Sunday's match at Leigh goes ahead as scheduled then Craig Rumney is expected to make his starting debut. Craig will get his chance if Tane Manihera fails to recover from the knee injury he picked up in the Widnes game two weeks ago.

Gary Murdock will put his faith in the 18 year-old stand-off, who was expected to make his starting debut in last weeks cancelled match against Chorley.

The former Seaton amateur did not expect to get his first team chance so soon and says he is keeping calm about playing in front of an expected 3000+ crowd at Hilton Park.

"I don't really get nervous, although I probably will just before this match as it's such a big game," he said.

"I was not expecting to get a starting role this early into the season, but you have to take your chance with both hands when it comes and I'm looking to play well.

"I will be looking to do my best, make no mistakes, not let anyone down and see how it goes."

Murdock said "He's a very confident kid and at the present time he's the best option. All he needs is time but he will get his chance, and if he plays well he will keep his place, whoever is coming back."

Statement from the Board

Workington Town would like to wish the Allerdale side all the best for their coming season.

We would like to clear up any confusion over the support offered by Workington Town. We have in the past and will in the future offer the Allerdale side our support and will always allow them to use the facilities at Derwent Park.

Unfortunately this season their first three games clash with the Workington Town 'A' team fixtures so an alternative venue for the Allerdale side has now been found for these matches. We have supported them by completing administration and other duties and look forward to supporting them throughout the coming season.

Geoff Tubman to stay as Chairman

The club have scrapped plans to rotate the chairmanship of the club. The board of directors had agreed to swap the top job at the club between the directors on an annual basis, after Geoff Tubman took over from Wilf Harrison as chairman.

Geoff has seen the club through a difficult period into one of its strongest positions for some time. Geoff doesn't want to see all the hard work done by the board fall apart and has agreed to stay on as chairman for the foreseeable future.

"We said we would change the chairman every year but things are going so well at the club that I don't see any point in changing it," said Geoff.

"Each director knows what his role is and as there are no problems I don't see any point in making changes. The club is moving forward and we are financially secure for at least the next few years despite the drop in Sky television money.

"By rights it should have been Peter Caunce who takes over as chairman because he is next in line when we said we would rotate it, but we won't rush into a decision. I enjoy being chairman and I am happy to do it as long as I have the confidence of the other directors."

Samuel to Skipper side

Anthony Samuel will skipper the side in the match at Leigh in the absence of the injured Matt Sturm who has failed to recover from an ankle injury.

Gary Murdock has entrusted Samuel with the captaincy for only the second time. "I always look for a captain that who will lead from the front and he should make a good one," said Murdock.

"He was pretty quite in his first two games but he's certainly improved as the season has gone on."

Town will also be missing the injured Tane Manihera (Knee) and Steve McGrady (Sternum) as well as Matt Sturm. Fata Sini has recovered from the muscle injury he picked up in the Whitehaven game and will start on the bench.

William Blackburn gets his first start of the season in the second-row while Jamie Beaumont returns to action after a bout of flu, but will be playing at centre and not amongst the forwards as expected.

"Wilma scored some cracking tries last year and added extra impetus," Murdock said. "He has a bit of pace, is keen and tries very hard. Jamie Beaumont is not a centre, but again, he is the best option and is another who is very quick for a big fella, and I have no problem putting him in there."