Workington fans roar on Pickering but Fijians friendly is frozen off
Last updated 14:10, Monday, 01 December 2008
Workington Town 6 Australian Fijians 42 (abandoned after 51 minutes): The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for former Workington Town legend Jimmy Pickering as he rolled back the years and stepped out onto Derwent Park once more yesterday.
Pickering donned the number 21 shirt for the touring Australian Fijians and came on as a sub half way through the first half of the friendly to cheers from both sets of supporters.
In the end freezing fog put paid to the long-awaited clash after 51 minutes as the pitch became unsafe.
Referee Gareth Hewer had tried to call it off a few minutes earlier but players on both sides begged for a little more time.
But, with the fog and ice increasing, the game had to be halted with the Fijians running out 42-6 winners.
The tourists were powerful and quick and very strong in attack with hooker James Storer creating numerous opportunities and second rower Alfred McGowan powering through the Town defence.
After only two weeks in training Workington did not shame themselves and looked to be a good side in the making.
They started well but early mistakes cost them dear with the Fijians capitalising every time.
The Fijians were flying off their line and put pressure on the Town attack and when a pass went to ground, Junior Rika soon latched on to it to touch down.
Scrum-half Joe Delana added the extras and the visitors were 6-0 ahead.
Town picked themselves up and new signing Craig Hodgson showed his pace when he broke through and surged upfield, only to be met by some towering Fijian defence. Fiji went further ahead when full-back Samu Wara touched down on 15 minutes but the conversion was missed.
Then, in the space of six minutes Fiji ran in three more tries, two converted to build up a 26-0 advantage.
First Lepani Waqa stepped his way through the defence to touch down, then winger James Langiloa bagged the next.
Delana dummied his way down the middle of the field and chipped over the top of the defence. Langiloa won the chase to the ball and kicked it towards the try line where he followed up to touch down.
On 27 minutes hooker Storer broke through and slipped the pass to centre Waisale Naiqama who scored under the posts.
Pickering entered the field of play and to the crowd’s delight showed he has lost none of his skill. He was taken down but still managed to slip the pass away surrounded by about five defenders.
Stephen Dawes made a break for Town to get the crowd on their feet but he was caught yards from the line.
But Town finally got their reward two minutes from the interval with a try for sub Peter Dobson.
Brett Smith popped up a short ball for Dobson just yards from the line and he forced his way over.
New signing Michael Watton tagged on the extras and the half time score stood at 26-6 to the Fijians.
The second half was short as the weather began to roll in from the sea over the break and the ground began to freeze hard, with visibility also poor.
But it didn’t stop the Fijian machine from rolling on as Langiloa bagged his second of the match four minutes after the restart and then McGowan touched down in the corner and Delana converted for 36-6.
After a quick inspection ref Hewer decided to call the game to a halt but the players thought otherwise and begged for a slight extension – which they got.
And the Fijians used it to the advantage to add a final try for the crowd to savour. Lepani Waqa stretched his arm out of the tackle to reach and put the ball on the try line, leaving Delana a final conversion.
After he slotted the ball between the uprights for 42-6 Hewer finally called it a day.
Town will feel pleased with some of their new signings on display but lacked some size against a large Fijian pack.
Craig Hodgson stood out with some good running, and Jay Duffy looked relaxed and in control in the full-back role.
Steven Roper, who signed in the close season from Widnes, also looked good in the scrum-half jersey with some flashes of inspiration and he looked prepared to take on the line against a much bigger and more physical side.
MATCH FACTS
Town: Duffy, Dawes, Beattie, Routledge, Marshall, Watton, Roper, Benjafield, S Burgess, Brindle, Robinson, Hodgson, Hobson. Subs: Blacklock, Dobson, Smith, Scott, Coupar.
Australian Fijians: Wara, Langiloa, Naiqama, Vute, Rika, Vatuvei, Delana, Koroi, Storer, Suka, Vunakece, McGowan, Waqa. Subs: Naulumagua, Rainimi, Cakacaka, Pickering.
Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven).
Attendance: 739.
Star Man: James Pickering (for bracing the temperatures and showing glimpses of the star quality that made him a Town favourite
