Big Ben quits Penrith to rejoin the Zebras
Last updated 13:21, Friday, 03 October 2008
Ben Lanighan, who moved to Penrith in the summer, has re-joined Workington Zebras.
The strong-running prop forward, who made the Cumbria side at the end of last season, will be back in the Workington pack for tomorrow’s home game with Fleetwood.
He has decided to play in west Cumbria because of difficulties in the travel involved to train at Penrith with his work commitments at Sellafield.
Workington team manager Kevin O’Neil said: “We were a bit surprised in the first place that Ben had decided to leave us for Penrith so we are delighted to have him back.
“The registration has been sorted out and he will be clear to play against Fleetwood, although I imagine he might start on the bench.”
Workington go into the game on the back of two successive wins in North Lancs Cumbria against Aldwinians and Burnley.
Neil Sandwith (knee) and Chris Davidson (shoulder) miss out through injury but experienced forward Jason Howarth returns along with winger Bede O’Connor, who scored a try for the second team, the Steelers, on Saturday.
“It was a good performance at Burnley. We did go to sleep for a while, allowing them back into the game with three quick tries but we finished the game strongly.
“Our two centres were superb. Mike Hawley scored a try and Dion Seath won the man of the match award with some brilliant defensive work,” said O’Neil.
Also in North Lancs Cumbria Wigton will be the third county side to take on Burnley – and so far Workington and Keswick have come out on top against them.
Wigton will keep an unchanged pack from the side which lost 20-11 at Aldwinians while David Warwick and Richard Moffat, unable to travel with the first team last week, are back in the squad.
Keswick went down 25-14 at Fleetwood but gave a very good account of themselves as they continue to enjoy life in the higher flight.
Tomorrow Keswick entertain Heaton Moor and will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent home record having beaten Burnley in a thrilling clash which saw the lead change hands eight times.
In North two East Aspatria travel to Durham City and will want to add to their hosts’ problems, but will expect a reaction from them after their 73-5 drubbing at Penrith.
The Black Reds had gone down 21-16 at Billingham and once again it was the final quarter that found out the Cumbrians.
For the trip to Durham City Aspatria will be without forwards Ian McDowell and Mark Bowe but Graeme Andrews and Mark Cottam both come back on.
Dan Rayson is available again and Lee Askew is back from holiday but the back division will have to be shuffled round as Stephen Davidson is out with injury.
Chairman of rugby Mark Richardson said: “Both teams are looking to bounce back for different reasons. We had a good chat in midweek about what was going wrong and want to put that right, while Durham will be wounded after that hammering at Penrith.”
In the Cumbria League Aspatria still don’t know whether the Eagles will have a game tomorrow. Gosforth Greengarth haven’t played so far and earlier in the week only had ten players but were hoping to get enough rustled together.
Moresby were another side who couldn’t get enough players last week so their game at Creighton was postponed. They expect to be ok this week-end to host Cockermouth.
Creighton will certainly get a game this week-end when they go to Netherhall - a team they will find seriously embarrassed by last week’s heavy 53-5 defeat at Egremont.
There’s a test of Egremont’s new found confidence as they travel to Millom.
Wigton Wanderers go to Whitehaven after putting-up a decent effort in a 37-17 home defeat against St. Benedict’s, who entertain Workington Steelers tomorrow.
