Town pose big threat – Deakin

DANNY HALLIWELL: Out to add to his try-scoring tally for the Roughyeds.

WORKINGTON Town will be anything but easy beats when they arrive at Boundary Park this weekend.

That is the message being put out by Roughyeds coach Steve Deakin, ahead of a game which pits third against eighth in National League Two.

By the time kick-off arrives, Oldham will know whether automatic promotion is still a realistic possibility.

For that to be on the cards, Barrow would need to fall at Swinton the day before — but the other side of the equation, of Oldham turning over the rugged West Cumbrian outfit, isn’t being underestimated.

“They have come in with a good late run of late,” said Deakin, who has ruled out injured parties Tommy Goulden, Gareth Langley, Mick Nanyn and Matty Brooks from playing before any play-off campaign begins.

“By all accounts they were the better side when played Gateshead at home this weekend (losing 22-14), conceding four tries to three with two of those coming off kicks that had wicked bounces.

“I have spoken to (Town coach) Dave Rotheram and he said that they are looking to put on a good performance in their last league game to take them into the play-offs.

“It is going to be a massive battle for us.”

Never one to leave things to chance, Deakin has already plotted out two distinct plans of action.

One, for if Oldham manage to move up to second place; two, if a play-off campaign ensues for a second successive season.

“If we are to go through the play-offs, we will give the players five or six days off for rehab after Workington and we then have the training schedule worked out all the way up to the Grand Final,” Deakin added.

“The first play-off match takes place three weeks after our last league game and we expect to have all the squad back involved by then.”

Workington are guaranteed an eighth-placed finish, meaning Dave Rotheram’s side face a probable away day at Doncaster, Keighley and York, for the right to progress to the next stage.

Looking at their record, though, Town can count themselves unlucky not to be further up the table.

Dave Rotheram’s side all-but defeated Oldham at Derwent Park, going down 16-14 to a late Mick Nanyn try despite arguably deserving to take all three points.

As it was, they only picked up the one, as a bonus for losing by less than 12 points — a feat they have managed in 10 of their 15 defeats this year.

Ex-Rochdale utility back Mark McCully is back after serving a one-match suspension, but former Roughyeds man Iain Marsh is unlikely to turn out at Boundary Park, having pulled a hamstring in the warm-up last week.

Town stand-off Carl Forber will look to add to his tally of 167 points for the season.

Meanwhile, for the home side centre Danny Halliwell will be out to preserve his status as the Roughyeds’ top try scorer in league games only.

The former Halifax and Salford player is currently on 13, two ahead of nearest rival Paul O’Connor, who has come up with seven in his last seven appearances.

In all competitions, James Coyle currently heads the charts with 20 tries, one ahead of Nanyn.