Workington Town 40 vs 14 Hunslet RLFC
Hunslet’s chances of making the Play-offs took a massive blow at the Fibrus Community Stadium, Workington as the West Cumbrians packed more punch and showed more passion than The Parksiders on a warm but windy day on the west coast.
The start couldn’t have been more positive for Hunslet. Coming out of the sheds on fire Hunslet got on the front foot. Lee Gaskell’s kicks pegged Town back, and Abram and Harrop combined well to go close.
But after a scrappy last tackle for Workington ended in a Hunslet knock-on Workington found themselves in the ascendancy. Hunslet defended well, but lost Cam Berry to an ankle injury.
On 13 minutes Hunslet opened the scoring, after a penalty Lee Gaskell put out a superb long ball for Mo Agoro to score on the right. Billy Jowitt converting 0-6
From the re-start the ball hit the wind and blew back into Workington’s hands. This gave the home side a chance to strike back quickly, and after pressure Evan Lawther went over to score. 4-6
The momentum changed and Town now looked confident whilst Hunslet started making mistakes. A silly knock-on early in the tackle count gave Workington possession and good hands to the left saw Braden Leigh dive over. 8-6 after 24 minutes.
Workington made errors, but from the scrum a Hunslet pass caught the wind and any chances of an attack were lost.
On 34 minutes Town cut a hole through Hunslets centre and although Jimmy Watson made a tackle, with a re-set Workington were able to get Jake Carter over for a try. The half-back converting 14-6
Although Battye and Gaskell combined well the ensuing kick for Agoro was well caught by Town defenders and the chance of scoring was gone.
Hunslet had to hold out to the break and re-group. But on 39 minutes another break through Hunslets soft underbelly by Castle saw Zarrin Galea outpace Hunslets defence to the line. Carter converting 6-20 at the break.
Any chance of a second half comeback was gone on 46 minutes when Town again broke through the middle and Tuarea Rawhiti scored for Carter to convert. 26-6
The bounce of the ball had not gone for Hunslet and things got worse when Eddie Battye was sin-binned for The Parksiders.
Workington were especially dangerous down the left, and Lewthwaite and Carter added more tries before the hour to stretch the score to 34-6.
It was turning into a nightmare afternoon for Hunslet as nothing went right. The re-start didn’t go 10 yards and on 64 minutes after a penalty Rio Corkill stretched the lead to 40-6.
Hunslet’s attacks were short in idea and not executed well. The game was lost, but as Charlie Graham was shoved into touch it seemed like the whole afternoon in a nutshell.
On 79 minutes Myles Harrop gave fans something to savour with a fine solo try, then in added time quick hands to the left saw Jimmy Watson add another to his long list of career tries, but on the hooter it was Town who were celebrating, whilst Hunslet wondered where to go from here?
Jake Carter had had a fine afternoon for Workington with 2 tries and 4 conversions, whilst for Hunslet Eddie Battye was again dangerous and Liam Carr got through some tackling.
In the end though this was a game Hunslet had expected to win. With daunting games against London and Oldham to come they must regain some pride and hit the run in to the end of the season with renewed energy and determination.
WORKINGTON TOWN – Galea, Leigh, Lawther, Corkill, Featherstone, Carter, Wear, R.Ainley, J.Doran, Farrer, Lewthwaite, Stephenson, Scholey, Rawhiti, Reid, Williams, Castle, J.Ainley.
HUNSLET – Jowitt, Agoro, Harrop, Graham, Watson, Gaskell, Abram, Baldwinson, Berry, O’Hanlon, Gilmore, Carr, Battye, Tydeman, Walker, Larroyer, Grice, Hallas.
Main picture courtesy of 40/20 pix
