Last updated at 06:41, Friday, 30 July 2010

WORKINGTON Town have been handed a major boost in the run-in to the Championship One play-offs, with the news that Brett Carter has signed a new two-year deal.

STAYING: Brett Carter has re-signed for Town

Fans favourite Carter, 22, put pen to paper this week to keep him at Derwent Park until the end of the 2012 campaign, which has delighted chairman Dave Bowden.

Bowden said: “Brett hadn’t played much rugby when he came to us but as the season has gone on, he has grown in confidence and he has all the makings of a very good player.

“He is getting regular game time now and his game has developed considerably because of that.

“Brett is a favourite with the fans because he works so hard and has got great feet.

“He is also very athletic and goes on surging runs that over the season have gone on for longer and longer.”

Bowden added that this was the perfect start for Town to begin building their squad for the next couple of years as they aim to keep progressing.

He added: “He is another young local player and we want to get them all tied down to longer term contracts as we start to build a strong team.”

The news comes on the back of the fact that Carter has also earned a call-up to a provisional 35-man Scotland squad, ahead of this autumn’s European Cup.

The versatile full-back/winger has impressed Scotland boss Steve McCormack and he could feature, alongside clubmate Paddy Coupar.

And Town powerhouse Ryan MacDonald says his side can go all the way in the play-offs – as long as they give their all for 80 minutes.

MacDonald, who will play two games in two days this weekend with his testimonial match at the Recreation Ground tomorrow, says Town have the potential, they just need to bring it to the fore.

Town take on Rochdale Hornets on Sunday at Derwent Park (3pm ko) as they begin their run-in to the end of the season, with four crucial games to go to secure their play-off slot.

MacDonald said: “This is what you play every game throughout the year for.

“You play to win and we are there to win the big prize at the end. There is no point playing in every round of the regular season and falling short at the final hurdle.

“Everybody can beat anyone in this league. With the exception of maybe Hunslet, Blackpool and Oldham, on their day, nobody has really stood out.

“We had our chance against Oldham if we had just turned the screw it would have been alright.

“It is all on the day. If we play well for 60 minutes instead of 40 then we will be well on our way. It is just putting it together over 80 minutes.

“If we do that then we are capable of beating anyone, as we have some good individual players who are capable of turning a game.”

MacDonald’s All-Star team will take on a West Cumbrian Amateur Select tomorrow at the Recre (2.30pm ko) but he says his main focus will still be Sunday’s game with Rochdale.

“Obviously the Rochdale game is my main priority - apart from scoring a length-of-the-field try tomorrow,” he joked.

And he also appealed for fans to come along and support him in his testimonial match, which will feature some familiar faces in his former Super League boss Neil Kelly, Keighley coach Barry Eaton and former Leeds forward Anthony Farrell.

There is also a bouncy castle and entertainment on in the bar after the match along with an auction. Admission is £7 adults and under-16s £3

Coach Gary Charlton was disappointed with the result last weekend against York, when Town went down by just four points but he says they did set a solid platform for Sunday’s game.

Charlton said: “I thought we were the best team against York, we just made a couple of silly errors at the wrong time and they came back to beat us.

“It was a great performance away from home, we were very dominant especially in the tackle and didn’t give them much of a sniff.

“Now we are playing teams around us and we have set a good platform. At home, on Sunday, I expect us to get three points.”

n Town Flyer: Monday, R Hope, Maryport, C4241. Tuesday, P Swanston, Workington, B2285. Wednesday, S Ellis, Maryport, A9430. yesterday, M Laidlaw, Workington, B4106. today, J Reed, Workington, B9526.

First published at 19:28, Thursday, 29 July 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk