MATCH PREVIEW: WORKINGTON TOWN v MIDLANDS HURRICANES (BETFRED LEAGUE ONE ROUND 16)

Derwent Park - the home of Workington Town (Credit: Sky Sports)

Canes travel to Cumbria for crucial away clash

After a nail-biting 22-20 win over Rochdale Hornets at The Alexander Stadium on Sunday, Mark Dunning’s men are aware they enter a crucial and challenging series of games as they face away trips to Workington, Swinton and Whitehaven over the next five weeks before welcoming Keighley Cougars to The Alex over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The first of those away trips sees us travel up to Derwent Park to take on fourth-placed Workington Town in what promises to be a warm afternoon on the Cumbrian coast.

That win over Rochdale - which saw the Canes do the double over Hornets for the first time - was a welcome bounce back from two narrow defeats to North Wales Crusaders and Goole Vikings in previous weeks. However, Mark did not mince his words in his post-match interview when he acknowledged that his lads would need to play better than they had if they are to leave Cumbria with the two league points. The two teams have already met once before this season, with tomorrow’s hosts perhaps feeling unlucky not to have won in Birmingham as a Jake Sweeting penalty in the final minutes saw the sides share the spoils of a 16-16 draw.

Looking to our opponents, Workington Town have made no secret of their desire to return to the Championship this season after what they would have considered a disappointing 2024 Betfred League One campaign. Finishing sixth and just behind the Canes in the final play-off spot, it would be Midlands who brought their play-off campaign to an abrupt end as a closely fought contest at The Alex saw the Canes emerge 24-22 winners. This was the third consecutive win for the Canes over Town that season, following 16-26 and 34-22 wins at Derwent Park and The Alex respectively.

Contrasted with this season, and its clear Workington are determined to secure a Super 8s spot as they have seven wins and a draw from a possible 12 in what is undeniably one of the most competitive League One . With just five points separating the top four sides, Town could leapfrog the Canes into second place with a win on Sunday, however Swinton hosting winless Newcastle means third-place is likely the best the Cumbrian side could achieve at the end of Round 15. A win for the Canes would see them officially guarantee their greatest Betfred League One points total with five regular games to spare.

In terms of 21-man squads, Head Coach Mark Dunning has only made one change to his squad selection for Workington with Marcus Green replacing player/coach Chris Cullimore. Workington - like the Canes - are understood to be missing some key players but will benefit from the return of Levi Atiga and their three loan signings from Hull FC and Castleford Tigers.

21-Man Squads:
Workington Town
1 - Zarrin Gales
2 - Levi Atiga
3 - Rio-Osayonwambo Corkhill
7 - Dom Wear
8 - Ross Ainley
9 - Jamie Doran
10 - Stevie Scholey
11 - Cooper Howlett
13 - Jack Stephenson
15 - Cole Walker-Taylor
16 - Guy Graham
19 - Grant Reid
20 - David Eccleston
21 - Callum Phillips
24 - Lucas Castle
25 - Callum Farrer
28 - Jake Carter
29 - Spencer Fulton
00 - Lennon Clark (Loan - Hull FC)
00 - Zach Jebson (Loan - Hull FC)
00 - Andy Djeukessi (Loan - Castleford Tigers)

Midlands Hurricanes (brought to you by www.enjoytravel.com)
1 - Todd Horner (Sponsored by Yorkshire Ceiling Services)
2 - Matty Chrimes (Sponsored by Lowry Recruitment)
3 - Ryan Johnson (Sponsored by Hull Wyke RL)
4 - Ross Oakes (Sponsored by Geoff and Maureen Hammond)
8 - Jon-Luke Kirby (C) (Sponsored by EJ Interiors Ltd)
9 - Danny Barcoe (Sponsored by St Katherine’s Carpets)
11 - Tom Wilkinson (Sponsored by JW Visual)
12 - Josh Jordan-Roberts (Sponsored by 39 Steps Consulting)
13 - Mikey Wood (Sponsored by MG Electrical Contractors)
14 - Aiden Roden (Sponsored by Enjoy Travel Group)
15 - Aaron Willis (Available to Sponsor)
16 - Ellis Hobson (Sponsored by GLLEE UK Ltd)
18 - Zeus Silk (Sponsored by This is Warrior)
19 - Marcus Green (Available to Sponsor)
20 - Elliot Morris (Sponsored by GLR Energy Ltd)
21 - Sully Medforth (Sponsored by Ideal Building Systems)
24 - Matty Hanley (Sponsored by JGE Wholesale)
25 - Luis Roberts (Sponsored by Crypto Construction)
26 - Ethan Newboult (Sponsored by Leeds Rugby Club)
27 - Liam Kirk (Sponsored by The Tennis Court)
33 - Brad Billsborough (Available to Sponsor)

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