Rugby union

Published at 11:10, Thursday, 26 April 2012

DESPITE being short of at least seven regular first team players, Workington finished off their North Lancs Cumbria season in some style in Manchester.

They recorded a bonus try scoring victory from a 40-17 success over Didsbury Toc H who had won back up at the Ellis earlier in the season.

However at the beginning of the game there was no sign of what was to follow as the home side dominated position and possession, and it was no surprise when they went in front in the seventh minute.

From a break by the stand-off, their number eight forward Chris Matthews was on hand to score near the posts. Gaz Oakley missed his conversion and, as Michael Fearon kicked off, it was the first time the ball had been in Zebras’ hands.

Didsbury continued to have more of the ball, but the Zebras were also looking lively when in possession and it was Martin Armstrong who levelled the scores when he finished off a backs move near to the right hand corner in the 25th minute.

This score however seemed to galvanise the home side and when they were awarded a penalty, they opted to kick into the corner.

From the resultant line-out their forwards drove to the Zebras’ line and second row Mike Hyde touched down, and with Oakley converting the hosts led 12 -5.

It was the Zebras’ turn to exert some pressure, and Fearon converted two penalties just before half time with to take the score to 12-11 at the break. Oakley had missed an easy penalty in the 42nd. minute and the home side would come to rue that miss.

Robert Scott put the Zebras ahead with a try in the left hand corner following a five man back move, This lead was short lived as Didsbury went right back down field. When young Alex Robertson handled in a ruck in the same manner as Didsbury had done just before half time the result, was different and he was sinned binned for 10 minutes.

Oakley took advantage of the Zebras’ shortfall and found room to score a try to put the hosts back in front at 17-16.

That, however, was last we saw from the home sign as the Zebras took control, both in the forwards and the backs.

Needless to say it was the experience of Donald Lines, David Todhunter and Neil Hastings that kept them going forward, Tom Latham, playing in the back row, also gave a man-of-the-match performance.

However it was the midfield axis of Fearon, Armstrong and John Chisnall who all found time and space to drive the home side backwards with intelligent use of the wind at their backs.

On the hour mark Fearon put the Zebras back in front when he found a gap and broke through from 25 metres. It was skipper Shaun Murphy’s turn next to score and with that the Zebras claimed the bonus point.

Scott was next to score when he brushed aside a number of would be defenders to score one of his trade mark tries. Chisnall took over the kicking duties and converted from in front of the posts.

There was still time on the clock to see substitute Tom Lawson dash 50 metres down the right wing when he was released in space following another backs move. Chisnall converted.

St Benedict’s made a dreadful start at Blackburn, conceding three unconverted tries in the first 10 minutes.

It was hard work against a strong wind but they settled down after that opening shock and defended well, with Kurt Maudling and Gavin Maudling prominent.

Unfortunately right on half-time, Blackburn increased their lead with a converted try. Worse was to follow at the start of the second-half when the home side broke from their own 22 and eventually went over from a quickly-taken line-out, so at 29-0 it was virtually all over.

To their credit, Benny’s came back well and were unlucky not to grab a bonus point in the end.

On 55 minutes, Scott Wood broke from a scrum and he had Kristian Wood with him to take the pass and go in under the sticks. Kristian Wood converted.

Ten minutes later, some clever play by Kyle Hiddleston saw him chip the home defence and Kurt Maudling won the chase to collect and score. Wood converted.

Jamie Jardine went close 10 minutes from time and then Ross Anderson as thrown into touch when he was sneaking in at the corner.

Right on time, young full-back Liam Cordin took a pass from Craig Halligan and stepped three defenders to score a fine try under the posts. Wood converted.

Egremont lost 37-10 at Eccles in their final match but they have achieved their season’s target of retaining league status.

Eccles are third in the league and they took advantage of an early handicap for Egremont when they had prop Dave Hargreaves sin-binned. The home side took the lead from a push-over try.

The West Cumbrians hit back with a penalty by Liam Nicholls before the home side scored a second unconverted try and a penalty to lead 13-3 at the break.

The match was decided early in the second-half when Eccles used their fleet-footed full-back to good effect and scored three quick tries, two of which were converted.

Credit to Egremont they knuckled down and were the better side in the closing stages. That coincided with the arrival of flanker Lee Stamper, who has been sidelined for most of the season following knee surgery.

Stamper, champing at the bit to play for several weeks now, was given the last ten minutes of the final game and will be clearly in coach Rodger Temple’s plans for next season.

Xander Bainbridge went in for a late Egremont try which Nicholls converted.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk