Whitehaven and Workington Town will go into the Good Friday derby level on points — but at the wrong end of the Championship.
Both have just three points from seven games and have only four teams below them, one being the late-starting Halifax Panthers who are on minus six points.
Town do start the derby a place higher in the table, because of a better points differential – minus 62 as opposed to Haven’s minus 139.
Both suffered disappointing defeats on their travels last Sunday, losing by similar margins. Haven were beaten 52-20 at North Wales Crusaders while Town went under 38-8 at Newcastle Thunder.
But, as both coaching groups know, the winning team is most likely going to be the one that wants it most, so often the deciding factor in derby clashes.
The make-up of coaches and players is such that a significant number have been employed by both clubs.
Haven’s interim coach James Newton spent one season at Town, in between his two playing stints at the Recreation Ground/Ortus Rec while assistant Neil Frazer has had the same role at both clubs after a long career with Town.
Jonty Gorley, a former Town player and assistant coach, has been head coach at Whitehaven and is now back with Workington in a similar role.
As for players dual representation is plentiful with the likes of Mason Lewthwaite, Jake Carter, Ross Ainley, Callum Phillips, Jamie Doran, Cole Walker-Taylor, Ethan Bickerdike, Cieran Walker, Brad Brennan, Jordan Burns and Jordan Thomson – and probably more.
Away from the playing squads, there will be bragging rights for the fans which will take the winning supporters through to the return at the Fibrus Community Stadium as the last scheduled Championship fixture on August 30.
Apart from the result, the main after-match talking point is likely to be on the attendance – a crowd figure which appears to be particularly significant this season at Whitehaven.
The club went public on their concerns after a lowly crowd of 451 watched the game with Rochdale of which only 105 paid full price.
It was a little better for the following game with Midlands Hurricanes but needs to be substantially improved for the club to meet their financial targets and basically, keep afloat.
There will be some anxious looks at the weather forecast for Good Friday with the general consensus early in the week of morning rain followed by sunshine and showers from 2pm. The game kicks off at 1pm.
A handsome 2,000 crowd would be a major boost for Haven and is something they believe can be attained, hence a number of other events going on at the ground throughout the day.
Entertainment after the game by Newton and Shacks has been swiftly confirmed as not being the interim coach and club captain teaming up but a very good local duo.
On a more serious note, though, what do the respective camps think of the game and their recent defeats?
Haven’s Neil Frazer and Workington Town’s Gorley give their thoughts below:
