North Wales Crusaders head coach Carl Forster has challenged his side to match the standards set against Oldham and make a statement when they host Workington Town on Sunday.
Forster’s side narrowly missed out on causing an upset to league favourites Oldham two weeks ago, losing to a last minute drop-goal in Colwyn Bay.
However, the Crusaders head coach has laid down his expectations to his side as they prepare to welcome Workington Town this weekend with both teams fighting for a play-off finish.
Speaking ahead of the game to the club website, Forster, the former Whitehaven player-coach and Barrow Raiders forward, said: “Having reviewed the Oldham game, it’s really hard to find fault in that performance.
“Right across the squad, the effort, organisation and intensity was the best it’s been all season, and for me now, that’s got to be our standard.
“We’ve had a rough patch in terms of results, but we don’t want to be looking back too much.
“Looking ahead, we’re just two points off those play-off places and Workington, so Sunday is the start of a crucial run of games for us as we get into the really intense part of the season.”
Having enjoyed a week break for the Challenge Cup final last weekend, Forster believes that the time off will have done his side good going into a packed summer of fixtures.
“We probably needed that week without a game, he said.
“It’s given us time to regroup, bring some injured bodies back into the side and just take account of ourselves with some extra time on the training field to push on.
“I’m lucky in that I’ve got a really hungry group of players here, they want to learn, to develop and we’re all hurting from the manner of that Oldham defeat, but we take those levels into this week, and this next month, and I’m fully confident that we speak in five weeks time with the league table telling a different story.”
