Ollie Wilkes is getting a name for himself as a try scoring machine – after running in his 100th career touchdown at the weekend.

And the Workington Town skipper says he is ‘eternally grateful’ to his team-mates for giving him the opportunities this season to reach this major milestone.

The strong-running prop, 39, has just returned from a hamstring injury, and was slightly unsure whether he would feature for Workington in West Wales on Saturday.

But he put his hand up and, when Carl Forber set him up for a try, he took his opportunity and hit the century mark.

“It was great to reach 100,” he said. “I was made aware that I was getting close to it but when I totted them up I thought I was still two away. But the RFL said I was just one away.

“So I was supporting everything, looking to get on the back of each move and I got there so that’s the way forward.

“It’s a good lesson for other players coming up. The more you support, the more opportunities you get.

“It is a massive achievement to get to 100 tries and I have been privileged to play for this many years. I don’t know how many other forwards have managed to do it.”

But Wilkes admitted the opportunities to add to his tally might be more sparse now that he has reached his marker.

“I think they may be a bit more sparse now I have hit 100, I don’t think they will all be passing to me now,” he joked. “But I am very grateful to everyone who has tried to help me get here. I’m a try scoring machine now!

“I have to especially thank Carl Forber who has been looking for me every time he made a break.”

Wilkes is now ready and raring to go ths weekend, when Town take on Coventry Bears at the home of neighbours Workington Reds – Borough Park.

Borough Park was the home of Town from their formation in 1945 until 1956. So, in effect, the club is just returning to its former haunt, while their own pitch is currently undergoing pitch improvement works

And with the fans set to be closer to the action, Wilkes says everyone is looking forward to the game.

“At the end of the day it is a rugby league ground and all the fans will be right behind us,” he added.

“I’m sure it won’t make any difference to us but the fans will be a lot closer to us and we are all looking forward to the game.”

n Wilkes racked up his 100 tries with 16 for Town, 10 for Barrow Raiders, 17 for Leigh Centurions, 11 for Wakefield Trinity, five for Harlequins, 17 for Widnes Vikings, two for Whitehaven, 20 for Keighley and two for Scotland.