Last game win would secure third for Zebras
Last updated 19:41, Thursday, 17 April 2008
WORKINGTON jumped into third place in the North Lancs Cumbria League when they beat Didsbury Toc H 43-0 at the Ellis Sports Ground.
Wigton had missed their chance to take third when they lost at Upper Eden 15-14.
Ironically the Zebras go to Upper Eden tomorrow to play their final league game when victory will confirm a third-place finish in their first season back at this level.
Team manager Kevin O’Neil said: “We did not anticipate finishing as high as this so it’s been a big bonus. It sets up the squad for next season when we will be trying to improve on this.”
Didsbury could still go down and that was reflected in a spirited performance in the first half when they competed well and gave Zebras some trouble.
After Workington had raced ahead with two converted tries the visitors fought back with two touchdowns, neither of which were improved. At 14-10 the home side had a fight on their hands.
But they gradually started to assert themselves and had pulled ahead by half-time at 22-10.
In the second half they were in control for most of the time and were clear-cut winners in the end.
Full-back Mike Hawley was to emerge as the man of the match not just for his two eye-catching early tries but for three superb try saving tackles when Didsbury had their good spell midway through the first half.
Both of Hawley’s tries were converted by Kevin Parker and later in the half he added a penalty.
But after Didsbury had come back with their two tries it was Ryan Dobie’s first try for the Zebras in his second spell with the club which got them going again.
The tries came at regular intervals in the second half as both centre Chris Davidson and winger Mark Hunton used their pace to get away and over.
The pick of the tries, though, was the one scored by forward David Bowe. He went down the blindside and then charged 30 yards to the line before touching down. Harper converted all three second half tries.
St Benedict’s are bottom and look doomed after they lost 59-21 at Oldham.
Aspatria didn’t do enough in the first half at Hartlepool Rovers or they could have done Carlisle a favour in North Two East.
It didn’t help that Aspatria lost outstanding forward Gary Hodgson with a dead leg after he had collided with team-mate Heinrich Jonker.
Dan Rayson, who started in player coach Mike Scott’s fly-half berth, landed two good penalties to give Aspatria some points on the board.
Then some excellent work by the Black Reds forwards saw the ball shipped to the backs where full-back Lee Tinnion came through at pace to go round the last defender and score an unconverted try.
Hartlepool Rovers had a purple patch at the start of the second half in which they scored their 17 points to lead. They got in for three quick tries but could only convert one.
Aspatria had to re-shuffle after another injury, this one to centre Lee Askew, and in the conditions could not really exert any sustained pressure on their hosts.
Despite being without six first team players Netherhall were still too strong for Workington Steelers as they came away winners 31-13 from the Ellis Sports Ground.
Netherhall were on top from the start and created a couple of early chances with powerful runs from Andrew Patterson which were stopped by last ditch tackles by the home defence.
With 20 minutes gone Andrew Southwell went down the blind-side and beat three defenders through pace before dummying the cover to score a great try.
One strike against the head allowed Liam Thomason to race 20 metres through two tackles before feeding the supporting Stephen Knowles who raced over for the try which Carl Phillips converted.
Straight from the kick off another powerful run by Patterson saw Netherhall drive into the 22 and Andrew Branthwaite burst through a tackle before feeding winger Matt Debose to score.
Netherhall enjoyed a 17-0 advantage at the break but the second half was affected by the weather and was a scrappy affair.
The Maryport side scored early on through Thomason and Phillips converted. Workington came back at Netherhall and the visitors conceded two penalties which were converted by Jonathan Howarth.
In the closing stages Netherhall added another try, this time through Jonathan Burnyeat, which Phillips converted.
Workington were awarded a penalty try in the last few minutes which was converted by Howarth.
League champions Keswick always expect Cockermouth to raise their game when they meet and this latest clash at Davidson Park was no exception.
Keswick eventually won 31-13 but Cockermouth played their part in making it an entertaining game.
It started badly for Cockermouth with Keswick’s John Hume scoring a try after only 45 seconds. Mark Ireland converted.
Cockermouth responded a well-taken penalty by Andrew Skillen but Keswick’s Hume score again and Ireland again converted.
Cockermouth reduced the arrears another penalty by Skillen but the home side came back well on the half hour to increase their lead with a third try, this time from Jamie McKenzie.
As conditions deteriorated it became increasingly difficult to keep hold of the ball but both teams continued to try and play an expansive game.
In the closing stages Keswick scored two further tries through Michael Branthwaite and Hine, one of which was converted by Ireland.
Cockermouth never gave up and had the final say with a try for Johnny Taylor which Skillen converted.
With a weakened team due to injuries and unavailabilities the Aspatria Eagles travelled to Moresby and put up a good fight before losing 38-16.
It was Aspatria who took the lead on two minutes from a penalty in front of the posts by Lee Holliday.
Walter Cloete added a try and Holliday another penalty but a string of tries out-wide and by then given Moresby 31 points. Aspatria’s scoring was completed with a second try from Cloete.
Egremont had a comfortable 34-0 home win over Wigton Wanderers,
Fixtures - North Two East: Aspatria v Durham City. North Lancs Cumbria: Upper Eden v Workington.
Cumbria Leauge: Aspatria Eagles v Millom, BAE Barrow v Keswick, Netherhall v Egremont, Wigton Wanderers v Creighton, Cockermouth v Workington Steelers.
