Published at 11:38, Thursday, 07 June 2012

Whitehaven pair Shane Ackerley and Danny Barker will stay at Gateshead Thunder on a week-to-week basis after completing their initial month-long loan stints on Tyneside.

Danny Barker

Coach Don Gailer is happy for the pair to remain with Thunder for the moment to ensure they get regular game time.

“They seem quite happy over there and seem to be doing OK,” said Gailer, who watched the pair on Tuesday night when they turned out for Cumbria in the Rugby League 9s at Derwent Park. “Gateshead are probably quite keen to hold onto them for a little longer and it’s great they are getting game time.”

Gailer struggled to find a regular place for the promising duo earlier this season though believes they still have a future at Haven, where they progressed through the junior ranks.

Barker faced stiff competition for a back-row berth at the Recre while Andreas Bauer has made the full-back position his own of late with some fine performances.

Ackerley, best known as a No 1, was heavily involved in the 9s this week, and Gailer is a fan of his all-action style, seemingly putting aside personal safety at times for the sake of his team.

Haven, in fourth, host South Wales Scorpions on Sunday.

Sixth-placed Rochdale missed a chance to inch closer to the Cumbrians when beaten 37-24 by Workington Town last weekend, Marc Bainbridge’s conversion of Brett Carter’s try four minutes from time denying the Hornets a bonus point.

Rochdale, who have played one game more than Haven, are sidelined this weekend while Oldham, three points behind Gailer’s side, face a tricky trip to North Wales.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk