Last updated 19:47, Thursday, 14 August 2008

DERWENT Park will host its final league game of the season on Sunday when Workington Town take on top team Gateshead Thunder.

Thunder secured promotion last weekend beating Blackpool Panthers 44-22 and Town can help guarantee a play-off place with a result against Gateshead.

Depending on tonight’s result in the Barrow v Keighley game, Gateshead could come to Workington either as champions or needing to win to clinch the title.

It has been a mixed season for Town. They have lost 14 matches but managed to pick up nine bonus points for losing by less than 12 points.

“It has been a frustrating season,” said chairman Dave Bowden.

“We have been the bonus point kings and lost games by only a few points but if we had won those games then we would have been challenging for the top spot and that is what we will have to address for next year.

“We have been the better team a lot this year but mistakes have cost us.

“There is a lot of quality in this squad and over the summer we will be looking to add to it and strengthen for next season. It is important that we do that.”

Even though Gateshead are already promoted Mr Bowden still believes that Cumbrian neighbours Barrow will win the title.

He said: “When you look at the league table now, I don’t think many people would have expected Gateshead to be right up there.

“Barrow still have a game in hand on them and I think they will be champions. They have the advantage.”

Town’s last league game of the season is next weekend when they travel to Oldham and then the lottery of the play-offs.

Mr Bowden said: “When you get into the play-offs then it is a fresh start for everyone. We will have to be at the top of our game if we want to progress.

“I believe in our players so let’s just see what happens.”

Half-back maestro Carl Forber is on course to score in every match this season for Town.

Forber has picked up tries, goals or both in all 28 appearances in the league and cups this term and his coach, Dave Rotheram, is hoping his run will continue.

Rotheram praised the 23-year-old (pictured above) , who he says has been the backbone of his side this season.

The coach said: “This is a fantastic achievement for anybody, to score in every game. It is something you associate with the likes of Andy Farrell and Kevin Sinfield.

“It is great for Carl because he has held this team together - on his own a lot of the time.

“We said at the beginning of the season, we wanted to build a team around the likes of Carl and Shaun and Robert Lunt and he has been the stable one.”

Forber has 221 points so far this season, with seven tries, 96 goals and one drop goal, including a try in the fourth round Challenge Cup defeat at the hands of Hull KR.

Last season, he equalled Dean Marwood’s club record of 13 goals in a game and also scored three tries as Workington Town hammered hapless Blackpool Panthers 86-6 at Derwent Park in July.

He was the top points scorer in NL2 last year with 254 points from the league and play-off campaign.

This season he lies third in the points table for NL2, well behind former Haven centre Mick Nanyn, with his impressive 346 point haul for Oldham and Gateshead’s Dan Russell with 277 points.

Town centre Mark McCully will miss this weekend’s clash with leaders Gateshead after receiving a one-match ban.

McCully went before a RFL disciplinary committee on Tuesday on a charge of punching during the recent win over London Skolars.

Town coach Rotheram believes the decision was fair and is pleased McCully will be back for the final game of the league season and the play-off campaign.

And Town’s community manager Marnie Jackson will be scaling new heights on Sunday when she guest stars as a cheerleader.

Jackson will perform a routine with the Heroes Cheerleaders of Carlisle, who have been performing at Town’s home games.

After jokingly being asked when she was going to join them Jackson decided to have a go and help a charity.

She will take to the centre of the Derwent Park pitch after Sunday’s game. Players and staff will stay on the pitch to watch and it’s hoped fans will cheer her on.

Money raised from the performance will be split between Workington Town’s Community Development Foundation and Town’s chosen charity for the season Workington Lifeboat Station.

Members of the lifeboat crew will also be on hand with buckets and the boat to collect donations from the supporters.

Last Monday Town and Workington Cricket Club held at Twenty20 game in aid of the lifeboat.

The cricket club came out on top posting 215 professional Simon Beare hitting an unbeaten 101. Town responded with 175.

More importantly, £243 was raised for the lifeboat including a donation of £100 from Tesco.

l Town Flyer: Monday E Ackerlay, Northside, B2945; Tuesday C Ousby, Seaton, C7293; Wednesday YP Milligan, Cockermouth, B4089; yesterday J Meloy, Cockermouth, C4747; today Mr Hamill, Workington, B9212.