WORKINGTON travelled to Newcastle Thunder in search of a victory in the North East on the back of 2 defeats in the league and cup in recent weeks – one of which came at the hands of Thunder at the Fibrus Community Stadium two weeks ago.
Rugby League, on the whole, had a big birthday party this weekend as the Super League celebrated 30 years of existence.
It was March 29 1996, when Paris Saint-Germain and Sheffield Eagles kicked off the top-flight game in front of more than 17,800 in the City of Love, as Stuart Cummings was the man in the middle and oversaw the hosts gain a 30-24 win to down Gary Hetherington’s side.
Town themselves fell victim to the Parisians and lost in their only competitive game in France to date, 34-12, with Paul Burns and Mark Wallace getting over, while Marwood was ever-reliable with his boots.
From that first round of fixtures in 1996, there are currently five teams in the second division now, as Sheffield Eagles, Workington Town, Halifax RLFC (previously Halifax Blue Sox & Panthers), Oldham RLFC (previously Oldham Bears), and London Broncos now sit in the Championship, with London the most recent entrant to the League.
Widnes Vikings have also played in the top division when it was licensed, as well as Town’s opponents, Newcastle Thunder (formerly Gateshead), playing out of the Thunderdome in 1999.
Fast forward 30 years, and the Rugby League has reverted to its two-division set up with Newcastle partnering with York and Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League (Australia).
Town have signed well, taking on some top local talent as Grant Reid has shone recently in Town colours, with Tyce Walmsley also showing up well against the hosts in the reverse.
Newcastle opened the scoring on a ridiculously windy day in Blaydon on six minutes when Jack Smith went over out wide as Town were unable to slide.
Newcastle then went in again from King Vuniyayawa thanks to Town’s ill-discipline. Thunder went back-to-back when Town were caught at markers to take the score out to 0-16 after as many minutes.
Things got worse off the restart when Callum Phillips was taken for a head injury assessment, to be replaced by Jamie Doran.
The game then ebbed and flowed as Town began to gain a foothold in the game, but were held up several times in the half. The good news for the visitors was that Callum Phillips passed his HIA.
Town were able to score first in the second half when sustained pressure saw a clump of players looking to score or deflect the situation, with Jack Ainley touching down to score in a huge wind, Carter missing wide, with 30 to go.
Town gave away a penalty for a tip tackle on 53 minutes when Rawhiti was the guilty party; from the following set Newcastle exploited Town’s edges for 20-4, Smith getting his second.
The game then went away from Town when an apparent 2-1 ball steal was given 1-1, and Cody Hunter raced away under the posts to score and convert for 26-4.
Newcastle went back-to-back with a huge pass as Myles Harrison went in outwide to take Thunder to 30 points, Roberts converting for 32-4 with 14 minutes left on the clock.
On 67 minutes, Newcastle had a trio of back-to-back tries when Jordan Lipp slipped past Jamie Doran for Harrison to score as Town conceded 38 points again.
Town would have a second score on the board in the second half when Alex Donaghy was the beneficiary of a great pass from Dom Weir to slide over outwide on 73 minutes, Carter missing again into a 35mph wind.
Town were nearly over again in the last couple of minutes when a bullet pass from Callum Farrer was unable to be collected by Zarrin Galea.
Town may well be without Jake Carter after the half-back went off limping and in some discomfort, as he looked to roll his ankle during the game.
Share