Workington Town are finishing the season strongly as they approach the Championship’s seven relegation shoot-out games.

Back-to-back victories over the old enemy at the Recreation Ground and over former Super League giants London Broncos couldn’t have put the squad in any better shape.

An enthusiastic approach in their defensive setup and some magic from new half-back Jarrod Sammut proved a telling formula to see off the Broncos.

Town were clear and deserving winners against a side who offered few serious threats.

The West Cumbrians are in good shape now to earn eighth place in the final Championship table and guarantee four of the last seven games will be at home.

Phil Veivers’ men backed up last week’s derby win with a pulsating performance to undo the Broncos and move eighth in the table.

A win at Hunslet this Sunday in the final regulation game will secure eighth – the main prize on offer at the moment.

In simple terms, Town out-enthused the Broncos from the first minute and by the 21st minute were leading 12-0.

The home side dominated the half to such an extent that London offered no threat until they were gifted a try in the last minute.

At the heart of Workington’s attacking flare was recent recruit Jarrod Sammut, a player who spent time on loan with the Broncos.

His guile and know-how around the field have been refreshing additions to the Town armoury – and they are taking full advantage.

There was also a standout performance from second row forward Kurt Horton, who followed up a solid display at Whitehaven with an eye-catching, workaholic role against the Broncos.

It was a kick from Sammut on 11 minutes which enabled Horton to score the opening try. Sammut hit the post with the conversion attempt.

But four minutes later he produced a bit of magic to create Town’s second try. His deft flick, which any soccer player would have been proud of, wrong-footed the London defence and found the space which allowed Brett Phillips to collect and score. It was Phillips’ 100th appearance as a professional and a nice way to celebrate.

This time Sammut’s conversion hit the post but dropped over the bar.

On 21 minutes though, he atoned for his earlier miss by landing a penalty.

The introduction of former Town favourite Jamie Thackray was designed to give London a boost but he lasted only a few minutes before being forced off with a knee injury.

Instead it was James Cunningham, who had arrived on the field at the same time, who emerged as London’s most influential player.

Try as they did there was no way through a very solid Workington defence, getting two or three men into every tackle and at times pushing the London player back for several yards.

Therefore it came out of nowhere when London gave themselves a lifeline right on half-time.

Cunningham and Joe Keyes got them going down the left and when a stabbed kick came back off a Town boot, it was Keyes who released Ben Hellewell to score. Wes Naiqama added a fine touchline conversion.

That score changed the respective half-time team talks but within two minutes Town had regained their 12-point advantage.

Again it was a little kick from Sammut which caused the problem and with London unable to deal with it, Lewis Tierney nipped in to dot down the ball just before it rolled out of play. Carl Forber took over the kick and nailed the conversion.

Six minutes later, however, the Broncos were offered hope again. Cunningham’s pass found Keys in space and he sliced through to force his way over despite a brave effort on the line from Jack Murphy. Naiqama converted.

The game might have gone either way but it was the determination of Town not to let this one slip which allowed them to regain the initiative.

Again Sammut was involved after good work by Jamie Doran. The slipped pass was perfectly timed for Kris Coward to lunge forward and despite being tackled he was able to stretch out and made the touchdown under the posts. Forber obliged with the kick.

Sammut put over a field goal in the 75th minute and then during the six minutes of time added on for stoppages, Forber landed two penalties, one of them from halfway.

That had followed Naiqama’s restart kick going straight out of play – which somehow summed up London’s day.

Town: Murphy, Miller, Stack, Thornley, Tierney, Doran, Sammut, Coward, C Phillips, Shackley, Horton B Phillips, McAvoy. Subs (all used): Forber, Whiteley, Walker, Szostak.

Attendance: 686.