By Martin Morgan

Published at 11:13, Thursday, 05 July 2012

HOOKER Chris Smith requires groin surgery that will keep him out of the Whitehaven line-up for the rest of the season – but the club remain keen for him to return to the Recre next term.

Chris Smith

Smith was one of Haven’s top players last year, stepping in to the shoes of another superb No 9, Graeme Mattinson, following his switch to Workington Town.

But Smith managed only eight appearances this season before suffering a head injury in a high tackle in the West Cumbrian derby against Town in April which, more seriously, also aggravated a groin problem he picked up in 2011.

“They tell me it will be operated on in about three weeks, and there will be a six week recovery, so that’s his season done and dusted,” said coach Don Gailer.

Chief executive Barry Richardson continued: “Chris came on so much last year, and had so much to offer this year, but obviously, the injury has raised its head and prevented him from playing.

“He certainly figures highly in our plans for next year, and he’s one we are definitely looking to sign, whether we are playing in the Championship or Championship One.

“The progress he made last year was sensational. It’s disappointing for us that he hasn’t been able to play every week and hit those heights again. But we are sure he can do it next season.

“If he agrees to sign again it will be like having a quality new player. We are fortunate with the form Carl Sice has shown, and Sam Gee has come through as well.

“That has enabled us to cover Chris’s absence, and we are really looking for big things from those two for the remainder of the season, and a good run-in.”

Haven have been in fine form in recent weeks, culminating in an emphatic 42-20 win over promotion rivals Oldham on Sunday, and Richardson regards their now near three-week break as a mixed blessing.

“It could turn out to be a good thing if it gives players a chance to recovery from injuries, we can keep ticking over and go in to the Barrow game fresh, but we had been improving week by week,” he said.

“There’s so much positivity in the squad it won’t be an issue as there’s a real desire throughout the team to do well.”

Winger Chris Fleming is targeting the July 19 game at Craven Park for his return. He scored tries in the opening three games of the campaign but then suffered a recurrence of a shoulder problem which required surgery.

If selected for the Barrow derby, he should face a few familiar players from his days with Warrington Wolves Under-20s, as Cumbrian prospect Ryan Shaw, and forwards Bradley Brennan and Ryan Duffy, are all on dual registration with the Raiders.

“I still keep in touch, and it should be good to play against them,” Fleming said. “Ryan Shaw is up there with the best centres I’ve played with. I rate him, and he’s a cracking lad as well.

“I played two seasons as his winger, so he knows what I can do, and I know what he can do, so it should be fun.”

Ex-Haven No 2 Les Ashe has returned to the Recre dugout for the rest of the season. He cautioned that Haven still had plenty of work to do before they could guarantee a Championship future.

“There are no guarantees and we have to work really hard over our last six games,” he said. “I saw a massive improvement against Workington last week, and we need a continuation of that form.

“We have hard away games at Barrow, Rochdale and London and there are still areas to work on. I’m pretty happy with our squad and promotion is a real possibility, but we have to earn the right to go up.”

This week’s Pride of Five £100 winners are: C & D Denwood, Moresby Parks, Whitehaven, with ticket number 1,734; Mr Kendal, Buttermere Avenue, Seacliffe, 3,002; A Richardson, Mill Hill, 1,296; A Dixon, Southey Walk, Egremont, 2,073; Joyce Hayle, Victoria Road, Sunny Hill, 1,685. Leeds Line winners: V2370 - D Wilson; N3161 - Donna Lamb; G0551 - Lynn Webster; S0512 - B Mawson; J6603 - P Harris.

See page 43 for Haven match report and Alan Irving’s Eye On The Ball.

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