Last updated 01:00, Monday, 17 September 2007

Workington Town 42 York 4

A PITIFULLY small crowd of 669 turned out in a rainstorm to watch Town put together one of their best home performances of the season - a six-try blitz that takes them to Oldham for an elimination semi-final in the quest for promotion from Cooperative National League Two.

It was a rainstorm that turned in to an avalanche - an avalanche of points as York City Knights collapsed totally in the second half.

Inventive build ups and scintillating running rugby weren't the only entertainment on offer - Mick Cook's Knights had decided that if they couldn't put points on the board, they would put men on the deck, whatever thuggery was required.

A player from each side got yellow cards - Town's tough Polynesian Taani Lavulavu and Knights' red-haired bruiser Ryan McDonald, who carried on a private war throughout - but the big shock came in the 28th minute when touch judge Liam Todd ran on to report Town's hooker Shaun Lunt for biting as he went in to the tackle.

It wasn't clear whether Knights' Neil Lowe or skipper Dan Potter was the victim but Mr Todd was perfectly placed and Lunt, who had taken one on the jaw during the same clinch, accepted the red card of Jamie Leahy without protest.

An early general warning from Mr Leahy to both captains failed to restore discipline and skirmishes were frequent.

Nothing detracted from the quality of Town's performance and as Town's former Australian skipper and centre Andrew Beattie said after the match: "I've played in quite a few Workington sides where the wrong side has turned up to play.

“This time we got the right side and the right second half performance that knocked everything out of York. Carl Forber demonstrated again what a superb goal kicker he is with nine goals from nine attempts - he's just fantastic."

Beattie, who had to return to Australia when his work permit lapsed, was back in town to make plans for his wedding next month to Diane Laine, of Whitehaven and says he would love to return to play rugby league in his adoptive county.

York, who have now failed to beat Town in three clashes this term, came in to the play-offs from sixth spot in the league - one below Town - and knew they were going to have to put on something special to keep alive their promotion hopes.

They put the first score on the board when Lunt was penalised for holding down in the tackle and Ryan Esders converted the penalty opportunity.

But apart from another Esders penalty half an hour later, that was the end of the story for the Knights.

Town's very impressive second rower Dexter Miller put in two crunching runs within seconds, the latter of which gave him a close-in try in the 13th minute that set the ball rolling and the example for a hot performance from the West Cumbrians.

There were at least four candidates for the nomination as Town's star man, including Stephen Dawes at centre who broke the line when it mattered for three second half tries of quality. And co-centre Gus Frazer made valuable yards at just the right times to keep Town's momentum high as well as leading the side superbly.

Forber kicked nine goals from nine attempts and every one was landed with a comfortable margin. He saved his best for last when he goaled from the touch-line to improve Stephen Dawes' 80th minute try.

He's not just a kicker - his generalship throughout was on the money.

Joint Town caretaker coach Les Ashe said after the game: "We're highly delighted with the performance and disappointed with the dismissals, which may leave us short of key men for the Oldham game.

“There are also a few injuries to look at. We're making no comment on the alleged biting incident until we have seen the video and spoken to Shaun Lunt.

“What I would say is that Craig Barker and myself know we have a great set of players who giving everything for Workington Town right now; we're coming in to form just at the right time and if we can maintain that confidence and that commitment against Oldham, then yes we can do the job and progress."

Town: Wilson, Blair, Frazer, Mossop, Dawes, Forber, Keavney, Sidlow, S Lunt, Vaughan, Miller, Kmet, R Lunt. Subs (all used) King, Gorman, Tunstall and Lavulavu

York: Lingard, Mapals, Potter, Burton, Godfrey, Liddell, Rhodes, Palmer, Wray, Sullivan, Buckley, Lowe, Esders. Subs (all used): Elston, Priestley, McDonald, Spurr

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