Workington got back to winning ways and back to the top of the Cumbria League as they racked up 4 tries in the last 12 minutes to finally overcome a valiant Penrith A 24 - 5 at The Ellis.

If the Zebras ultimately gain promotion at season's end, they will look back on this game as a pivotal moment, because for a long time it look as if they were on the verge of surrendering their 100 % home record as
Penrith took the lead on 5 minutes when winger Michael Walters broke clear down the wing to go over for an unconverted try.

The wet weather during the week had made conditions very heavy going, with some parts of the pitch slowly churning up with both sides battling away in each other's half waiting for the vital break, but constantly thwarted by solid and resolute defending.

Just before half time, Workington came very close to drawing level, but an agonising knock on millimetres from the whitewash proved costly and Penrith were denied the chance to increase their lead by last ditch tackling with the tryline begging.

In the event, the score remained 5 - 0 at half time and remained so for much of the second half with more stoic rearguard action peppered with a string of clumsy handling errors from both sides.

Suddenly, on the hour, Workington began to move up a gear and with Ross Cape, Jonny Howarth, Shaun Murphy, David Todhunter and the returning Kevin Harper pulling out all the stops with some dangerous moves, the Zebras proceeding to bang on Penrith's door with menacing intent.

Then on 68 minutes, the breakthrough arrived when a well drilled scrum charge towards their opponent's line ended with Ross Cape cutting loose and touching down for an unconverted try.

Penrith's hitherto psychological advantage had now been punctured and Workington wasted no time in taking the lead - 3 minutes later in fact - when another scrum produced another "crashdown" try from captain Andrew Bowe, which was easily converted by Harper.

With heads dropping and fatigue kicking in, Penrith made one last attempt to gain something out of the match, but couldn't find a way through the supremely confident and efficient Zebras backline.

Three minutes from time, Workington sealed victory when Cape and Murphy combined to tee up Howarth who nonchalantly shrugged off a half hearted challenge to cruise in for a well earned try.

A bonus point - highly improbable barely 15 minutes ago - was clinched on the stroke of full time when Murphy snaffled a pass from Todhunter on the halfway line before catching the entire Penrith team asleep with a phenomenal solo run before virtually walking over the whitewash for the Zebras' 4th try, which Harper converted.

With an away trip to Furness next week, Workington will be all fired up to go into Christmas pacing the Cumbria League pack.

By John Hastings @ The ESG

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