Workington Town coach Anthony Murray announced himself well satisfied with his team’s performance at Whitehaven on Sunday.
Haven might have regained the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy with a 22-6 win, but Murray saw plenty of reasons to feel encouraged by his own team’s efforts.
“I asked them for commitment and effort and certainly got that. In fact for the first-half I thought we looked comfortable, particularly in our defence.
“We got a nice try and they only got back on terms right on the hooter.
“I thought we started the second-half well and could have scored right away but messed-up and then let them back to score their second try.
“I think the energy levels started to drop after the amount of defending we had done in the first-half and that told late in the game.
“But we got game time for 21 players and that is important when you look at how we don’t start our League programme until February 18.
“We have two or three players with knocks, as you expect from the first game, so we will see how they are feeling as to whether they figure at Barrow on Sunday.”
Murray has Grant Reid (thigh), Jason Mossop (shoulder) and Jordan Burns (back) nursing injuries as they prepare for the second run-out at Barrow.
The Town coach was particularly pleased with the performance of new skipper Stevie Scholey.
“He did more minutes out there than anybody else and led from the front as you would want your captain to do. Stevie sets a great example,” said Murray.
