Lacklustre Town bow as Thunder storm in
Last updated 09:42, Monday, 01 September 2008
Workington 14 Gateshead Thunder 22: Workington secured their 10th bonus point of the season and the final play-off slot in NL2 with a lacklustre display against newly crowned champions Gateshead Thunder.
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Workington made some silly errors, gifting Gateshead time on the ball and it was only through some poor finishing from the north east side that the winning margin was not wider.
Town were hit by another injury before the game had even started as Iain Marsh pulled a hamstring in the warm-up and former Academy youngster Robert Scott stepped up to the bench.
Once again, prop Matthew Tunstall put in a solid performance, alongside second row James Robinson. They took the ball up relentlessly and tackled hard but the win was not to be.
The highlight of the game for Town was Stephen Dawes’ superb try, he raced down the touchline, sold a brilliant dummy to the visiting defender and flew to the try line to score.
But Gateshead always looked dangerous on the attack with good skill from hooker Lewis McPhail, and half backs Neil Thorman and in particular Dan Russell.
Their powerful pack was also a key factor in victory and their former Wath Brow Hornet Stewart Sanderson capped his return to West Cumbria with a try.
Martyn Wilson started the game off well at full-back, as he wrapped up a certain try but moments later a kick from Russell led to a Michael Knowles try and Russell added the extras for a 6-0 lead after just one minute.
This was not the start the home side wanted and some poor tackling nearly saw them double their advantage but the final kick went over the dead ball line.
Town finally began to get their act together and Scott Burgess was held up over the line on 12 minutes.
They managed to get on the scoreboard shortly after as Jay Duffy put a grubber kick through and Dexter Miller collected to score but the conversion was missed.
The home support erupted minutes later as Dawes sped down the wing to collect his try after good work from Carl Forber and Mark Routledge in the build up.
Again the swirling wind saw Forber miss his second conversion but Town had the lead at 8-6.
However, the last word of the half went to Gateshead and to Stewart Sanderson.
Gateshead kicked down the line and Duffy dived to try and cover the loose ball but it bounced up and right into the arms of Sanderson who shot over the try line in the corner.
Stuart Kain nearly followed him over minutes later but didn’t offload at a crucial point and then they had a try disallowed for offside so the half time score stayed at 10-8 to the Thunder.
Gateshead came out after the break hunting for the points that would secure them the title and they added another try on 48 minutes as Russell came out from dummy-half and pushed his way over the line.
He added the extras and the advantage came out to 16-8. And soon they hit the 22 point mark when Dean Jamieson put in a lovely pass to McPhail who flew over the line, Russell again tagging on a further two points.
Forber brought Town back into a good position near the posts but Jamie Marshall was held up over the line and Town were still searching for the elusive score that would bring them a bonus point to secure eighth place.
But Gateshead looked dangerous again as Sanderson nearly bagged his second. He kicked the ball on towards the Town line and Duffy had to put it over the dead ball line as Sanderson closed in on him.
Robinson then saved a certain try as he wrapped up a Gateshead attacker over the line.
And, with three minutes to go, finally Town got what they needed with a try from Burgess.
The hooker lifted the ball above his head with both hands while on his back in a tackle to touch down and Forber bagged his first conversion of the afternoon.
The final hooter sounded soon after and Town had to settle for a 22-14 loss but their season will continue in September with the first round of the play-offs.
MATCH FACTS
Workington: Wilson, Dawes, Routledge, Mossop, Marshall, Forber, Duffy, Tunstall, Burgess, Dobson, Robinson, Miller, Campbell. Subs (all used): Kmet, Purdham, Scott, Benjafield.
Gateshead: Kain, Sanderson, Neighbour, McAlpine, Peers, Thorman, Russell, Payne, McPhail, Cakacaka, Nash, Knowles, Jamieson. Subs (all used): Clarke, Barron, Metcalfe, Parker.
Attendance: 603
Referee: Paul Carr (Castleford)
Star Man: Matthew Tunstall
