Mattinson doubtful for Thunder clash

Graeme Mattinson (calf) and Matt Tunstall (ankle) are major doubts for Sunday’s Co-operative Championship One fixture with Gateshead Thunder.

However, Karl Olstrum and John Patrick could both return to give joint Workington Town coach Gary Charlton a huge boost.

Charlton said: “We’ve still got errors in our game, but once we sort those out we’ll be OK.

“We’re quietly confident, but we’ve still got a lot of improvement to make if we want to get to where we want to be.”

On Gateshead, Charlton added: “We know they’ll be competitive, try their best and give 100 per cent.

“We’ve got to go out and do what we do well, which is play rugby – but we’ve got to set the platform first.

“That’s been our problem in recent weeks. We’ve got to learn to go forward first, rather than side to side.”

Thunder travel without Conor Condron, who faces up to eight weeks out after suffering a facial injury against South Wales Scorpions.

Director of rugby Chris Hood said: “To lose Conor for a large part of the season is a big blow.”

Hood will be hoping for his side first win of the Co-operative Championship One campaign. Thunder have drawn one and lost nine of their 10 league fixtures.