Last updated 01:00, Monday, 03 September 2007

Featherstone Rovers 40 Workington Town 34

WRITTEN off by many during the week, Workington Town put in a tremendous performance under the circumstances to almost pull off a shock in West Yorkshire.

However, a relieved Featherstone Rovers ensured second place in NL2 with the victory but, if it hadn’t have been for a three-try spell at the start of the second half, it could have been so different.

Town, travelling with the only 18 available, fit players, looked like they were going to be in for a long afternoon when full-back Los Wildbore crossed for the hosts in the sixth minute, skipper Stuart Dickens adding the conversion for a 6-0 lead.

But, well led by Neil Frazer in the absence of Jamie Beaumont, Town hit back five minutes later when winger Ryan Blair squeezed in at the corner after a move involving Martin Keavney and Carl Forber to narrow the gap to 6-4.

Few expected what was to come as Town put together a three try spell that silenced the Chris Moyles Stadium crowd.

Impressive loose-forward Shaun Lunt went over for the first of his three tries in the 13th minute following a fast, attacking move involving Franco Kmet, Keavney, Dean Vaughan and Carl Forber, the latter adding the two for a 10-6 lead.

Tremendous tackles by Darren King on Gareth Handford and Jason Mossop on James Houston kept the home side at bay as they battered the Town line, the pressure eventually lifted when Andy Kain’s grubber went dead.

Town forced their way up the other end and Rovers were penalised for dissent while in possession to give the West Cumbrians a penalty 25 metres out.

Town took a quick tap penalty and a play later Lunt darted in from acting-half. Forber added the goal and Town were 16-6 to the good.

Sub Matty Tunstall was then instrumental in the next try, the prop making a great break to go 20 metres before putting Keavney in. Forber again kicked the conversion and Town were 22-6 ahead in the 30th minute.

Big hits by Dexter Miller, Tunstall, Sidlow and Franco Kmet kept the home side at bay and Town added to their lead in the 33rd minute when, for the second time in the game, Rovers were penalised for dissent while in possession, this time centre Jon Whittle being the guilty party. Forber kicked the goal from 25 metres and Town had a 24-6 lead.

But it wasn’t to last as Rovers' pressure eventually paid off and, after sub Gavin Swinson was hauled down just short, loose-forward Tommy Haughey went over on the right, Dickens adding the extras to see his side go in 24-12 down at the break.

Whatever Rovers coach Dave Hobbs said at half-time worked as Featherstone came out world-beaters in the second period. Three tries in five minutes from Danny Kirmond, Paul Hanforth and Haughey, two improved by Dickens, saw Town fall 28-24 behind and it would have been too easy for the visitors to have thrown in the towel.

With Rovers looking very dangerous on the break, Whittle went over in the 67th minute, Dickens kicking the conversion, for a 34-24 lead, but Town weren’t finished.

Three Town penalties on the Rovers line within a minute could have seen referee Ronnie Laughton produce the yellow card but the Barnsley blower, who had an excellent game, decide to keep his pocket buttoned.

Lunt slipped when a third try looked on and his pass was forward but Town were rewarded in the 71st minute when Kmet broke from acting half on the halfway line to put Adam Sidlow away for an excellent try. Kmet kicked the goal and Town were back in business at 34-30.

With Town pressing for the winning try, winger Kirmond rose magnificently to take a high ball as they pressured the home line. But Rovers broke and, on the last tackle, Hanforth kicked a high ball into the left-hand corner.

Winger Ade Aderbisi climbed high for an amazing catch before miraculously getting the ball down before he fell in to touch. Dicken’s conversion bounced through the posts off the bar and that looked like game over.

Town, though, had other ideas and, as the hooter sounded, quick thinking by right-winger Stephen Dawes saw him launch the ball infield. The ball took an awkward bounce and Lunt collected it brilliantly to go in for his hat-trick try.

Kmet’s conversion attempt came back off the post but Town had thoroughly earned a bonus point that not many thought they were capable of.

Rovers: Wildbore, Kirmond, Whittle, McHugh, Aderbisi, Hanforth, Handforth, McLocklan, Dickens, Houston, Blakeway, Haughey. Subs: Benn, Tonks, Swinson, Hughes.

Town: Wilson, Blair, Frazer, Mossop, Dawes, Forber, Keavney, Vaughan, King, Burgess, Miller, Kmet, S Lunt. Subs: Dalton, Gorman, Tunstall, Sidlow

Attendance: 1,346