Town do double over London
Last updated 15:05, Monday, 04 August 2008
Town 33 London Skolars 16: Workington Town snuffed out their opponents with some sparks of brilliance at Derwent Park yesterday, to record their first league double of the season.
- Video: watch match highlights
And now they need to ignite those sparks into a flame to keep their play-off dreams alive.
A second win in two weeks for Town means they stay eighth, the last play-off spot in NL2. But with three hard games still to come they need to keep up their form.
And a bitter blow hit coach Dave Rotheram with two key players Bryce Poisel and Shaun Lunt both suffering injuries in the first half, not to return yesterday.
Half-back Poisel damaged his shoulder and hooker Lunt suffered a recurrence of his back injury, which will cause their coach some worry.
Some good work by Town’s pack against much bigger opponents laid the platform for the 33-16 victory.
Matthew Tunstall, in his testimonial year, had a good game, as did Chris Young and Dexter Miller. And Scott Burgess, brought on to replace the injured Lunt, did a great job in his place, directing play well.
Jason Mossop bagged a brace of tries and was the official man of the match on the day but he must have been pushed hard by Carl Forber.
The half-back was on top form, with a lot of pressure on his shoulders following the departures of two of his play-making team-mates.
It was Forber who opened the scoring for Town with a superb solo try, after getting great field position from a 40/20 kick. He went on to add the extras for 6-0.
Town stars must have been practising their kicking game as Lunt soon followed this up with a successful 40/20 of his own to the delight of the home crowd but there was no try to follow this time.
London then upped their game and the home try line came under some pressure but the defence held out.
Shortly after Poisel was helped off the field, to be replaced by Martyn Wilson.
With quarter of the game gone, Town were back on the score sheet, James Robinson popped the ball out to Lunt in the tackle and the hooker crashed over the line, with Forber adding the extras for 12-0.
Lunt made another good break shortly after but he was met by a wall of London tacklers and thrown to the ground, leaving him unable to continue.
But Town kept their heads up and showed some strength to keep going, despite the injury setbacks.
Forber was in the thick of the action once more as he nearly broke through the line of defence and then Miller came close to scoring before the ball was flung out to Jason Mossop who made no mistake for his first of the afternoon.
But unfortunately the impressive Young lost the ball three minutes later and London winger Corey Simms picked it up quickly and went in for the visitors’ first score.
Town kicked off once more and London knocked on just in front of their own try line but the home side could not capitalise on their mistake however, with four minutes to go, they had the final say of the half.
Scott Burgess lifted the Derwent Park faithful as he burst through the would-be tacklers, before slipping the ball out to Stephen Dawes, who was halted with about 10 yards to go.
Then London were penalised for holding down and Forber stepped up to slot the ball between the uprights and establish an 18-4 lead at the break.
Town started the second half in bright fashion with Burgess getting a touchdown in the opening minute and Forber converting.
And five minutes later Mossop got his second in style. The centre intercepted a pass on his own 30-yard line and raced the length of the field to score, chased hard by the Skolars defence.
The conversion was missed but Town had built up a commanding 28-4 lead and they were to need it as they went to sleep and let their opponents back into the game.
A mix up in a Town attack led to a loose pass and Skolars’ loose forward Alan Barker shot over the try line, with Paul Thorman converting.
And soon the scoreline stood at 28-16 when hooker Gareth Honor dived over from short range following some sustained pressure from the visitors.
Jay Duffy put Workington back on track with a drop-goal but then play from the visitors began to get sloppy and, with a lot of high shots going unchecked by the officials, players took matters into their own hands.
The resulting brawl saw Town’s Iain Marsh and Skolars’ recent try scorer Honor both sent to cool their heels in the sin bin.
But the game ended on a high for Workington with another length of the field solo try.
This time it was Jamie Marshall who kicked into action in the final minute to hand his side a 33-16 win.
Now Town face a tough trip to Keighley with a four point cushion over their nearest rivals for the last play-off place Swinton, who also won yesterday.
MATCH FACTS
Town: Duffy, Dawes, Marsh, Mossop, Marshall, Forber, Poisel, Tunstall, Lunt, Dobson, Robinson, Miller, McCully. Subs (all used): Wilson, Young, Campbell, Burgess.
Skolars: Brown, Simms, Miller, Shears, Aggrey, Thorman, Nowland, Rasaubale, Honor, Kerr, Meredith, Du Toit, Barker. Subs (all used): Forbes, Ellison, Jonker, Williams.
Referee: Peter Brooke (Manchester).
Penalty Count: 5-8
Attendance: 559
Star Man: Carl Forber.
