Workington Town 26 Doncaster 30

A converted try in the final two minutes proved a killer blow for Workington Town as Doncaster snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Derwent Park.

Town were holding on to a slender two-point lead in a match where the lead had changed hands on a regular basis.

But Callum Phillips was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle and Doncaster had both the field and numerical advantage.

And they took their chance as Russell Spiers dived over the line with Jack Miller converting just as the final hooter sounded to take the win and the all-important league points back to Doncaster.

Things hadn't started well for Town with the loss of Stevie Scholey in the opening five minutes, the strong running prop being sent to hospital with a possible broken thumb.

This left the home side light in the pack, although Phil Joseph gave his all when he was on the pitch and there were glimpses of potential from newcomer Gordon Maudling.

But there was no argument over the man of the match which went to Jamie Doran. The half-back ran the show and was inventive at times but Town still lacked an edge.

Doncaster gave away 17 penalties and a lot of field position but Workington did not always take advantage and it came back to bite them.

After some good early work that saw the ball just bounce away from the arm of Perry Singleton over the line, it was disappointing that Doncaster were the first on the scoreboard.

Throughout the game, the half-back partnership of Jordan Howden and Jack Miller caused problems for the Town defence.

And after a fumble near their own try line, the Workington players could only watch as Howden quickly capitalised and touched down, leaving Miller an easy conversion in front of the posts.

Town were quick to strike back as Conor Fitzsimmons got on to the end of a clever kick from Doran and got the vital touch over the line. Forber added the extras and the match was all level once more.

But the home side proved to be their own worst enemy for a second time as another fumble allowed Doncaster back into the match.

Kieran Mewse couldn't control a high ball from Howden and as it came loose, Miller got on the end of a quick passing move and strode over, adding the conversion himself.

Phil Lister entered the fray on the wing and, with one of his first touches of the ball, he scored as the action moved back and forth up the field.

Town whipped the ball out to the right-hand side and Lister raced over but Forber couldn't add the extras from the touchline.

Doncaster battled back and the home defence did well to halt the charge of Jason Tali who was held up over the line.

A second set of six put Town under some real pressure and Howden and Miler combined yet again to rip the home side apart.

Miller read a kick from Howden well and pounced over the try line to extend Doncaster's lead, after again adding the conversion himself.

A strong run from Brett Phillips put Town into a good position and, as his brother Callum put in a neat chip and chase towards the line, he was pulled down without the ball.

Town got another set of six but couldn't make Doncaster pay.

The visitors were giving their own coaching team a headache as they gave away a succession of silly penalties and this time Town did capitalise.

The ball came out to Jason Mossop and he dummied the final defender before going over the line.

Forber's conversion from wide out just rebounded off the post and the visitors led 18-14 at the break.

Workington had a good chance to take the lead at the start of the second half when Phil Joseph popped up a nice ball out of the tackle to Fitzsimmons and then Jamie Doran looked to kick through and score but the last line of defence prevailed for Doncaster.

And they threw away another chance when John Patrick couldn't control the final pass to get over in the corner.

It was a series of errors as first Charles Martin allowed the ball to come loose and Callum Phillips was quick to dive on it and hand Town another chance.

Doran put in a neat little kick but a frustrated Martin again fumbled and Town got the scrum 10-metres out.

Town were throwing their all at their visitors as they tried desperately to get over the line and eventually the defence capitulated as Phil Joseph crashed over.

Forber added the extras and Workington were in the lead for the first time in the game at 20-18.

They looked as though they would extend their lead when Callum Phillips released Scott Rooke and the winger showed his pace as he scorched up the field.

But Miller just caught him yards from the line and the ball came loose.

Forber picked up a nice interception and raced away with several Doncaster players in attendance.

He was finally halted by Bradley England whose second go at the Town half-back saw him sent to the sin-bin to cool his heels.

But the 12-man visitors still prevailed as first Russell Spiers was held up over the line by a superb tackle from Callum Phillips.

Then Spiers twisted and turned again near the line before popping up a nice ball to Kyle Kesik who just had to drop over the line, with Miller adding the extras.

Town were upping the pressure and forced a drop-out which led to Doran pushing his way over the line with several vising defenders on his back.

Forber added a lovely conversion from wide out and Town edged ahead once again with 10 minutes remaining.

With two minutes left, Callum Phillips was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Charles Martin to set up a tense finale.

And it was Spiers who saved the day for Doncaster as he took advantage of the extra man to drive over the line.

Miller added the extras seconds after the final hooter sounded and it was the visitors who took home the spoils 30-26.

Town: Rooke, Mewse, Singleton, Mossop, Patrick, Forber, Doran, Scholey, Howarth, Szostak, B Phillips, Joseph, Shelford. Subs (all used): C Phillips, Fitzsimmons, Maudling, Lister.

Tries: Fitzsimmons 8, Lister 16, Mossop 36, Joseph 49, Doran 69,

Goals: Forber 3/5

Sin bin: Callum Phillips 78.

Doncaster: Sheriff, Barnett, Welham, Tali, Doherty, Howden, Miller, Braham, Kesik, Spiers, Martin, England, Green. Subs (all used): Hedges, Wright, Aizue, Muranka.

Tries: Howden 6, Miller 11, 23, Kesik 58, Spiers 79,

Goals: Miller 5/5

Sin bin: England 53.

Referee: Greg Dolan.

Half time: 14-18.

Penalties: 17-6

Crowd: 522.

Star Man: Jamie Doran.