Kingstone Press Championship Preview: Workington Town v Batley Bulldogs

Peter Lupton could come into contention for Workington Town, but Marc Shackley (ankle) is definitely ruled out of Sunday’s Kingstone Press Championship clash with Batley Bulldogs.

Town coach Phil Veivers is aiming to stop the Bulldogs claiming a fifth successive league victory and end a run that has taken John Kear’s side up to fifth in the league table.

Victory for the hosts could lift them out of the relegation zone following last week’s 32-24 win against Swinton Lions.

Veivers said: “We have to fight and scrap for everything we get.”

Bulldogs’ impressive recent form has seen them claim wins against Rochdale, Keighley and North Wales before last week’s 34-4 defeat of Barrow Raiders.

But Kear remains wary of the threat posed by Workington, despite currently being five places above them.

Kear said: “Workington are in 10th place, a relegation spot, and they’re just six points behind us.

“This league is so tight and there’s a lot of rugby to be played yet.”