Workington continue to prop up North Lancs Cumbria, but they manage to end their 7 match losing streak with their best performance of their season as they produced a hard fought 7 - 7 draw against Hawcoat Park at The Ellis.

The weather was bitterly cold and whilst the temperature was plunging, the action on the pitch was hot from start to finish as both sides produced a titanic encounter.

Straight from kick off, Workington were swamping their opponents half and after just 4 minutes a series of scrums pushed Hawcoat's resistance to breaking point before James Watkins crashed over between the sticks for a well deserved try that Sam Robinson wasted little time in converting.

However, the lead barely lasted 7 minutes as the men from Barrow first quickly regrouped and then drew level after producing a series of fine passes that ended with Glen Kaighan darting in and touching down before George Smith effortlessly converted.

Workington tried hard to regain advantage, but on 17 minutes they were dealt a setback were reduced to 14 men after Grant Reid saw yellow for indiscipline and whilst Hawcoat tried their utmost to make the extra man count, they were frustrated at every turn as the well drilled Zebras rearguard held firm.

For the rest of the first half, there was plenty of feisty midfield action with both sides having a few scoring chances - however, clumsy knock ons and more resolute defence meant that it remained all square at half time.

The second half began pretty even as the action was once again larfely confined in the middle but eventually it was Workington who stepped up a gear and with Jonny Howarth, Bede O'Connor and Tom Lawson all working extremely hard, they pressured Hawcoat's defence to the brink, but were unable to break through.

Having rode the storm, Hawcoat slowly assumed control of the game and proceeded to test the Workington backline with a period of impressive efficiency, especially from the ever threatening Kaighan. However, they too couldn't generate their advantage into points mainly due to Zebras' dogged tackling and alertness is shutting down danger.

Ten minutes from time, the visitors were down to 14 men themselves after Smith was sinbinned for abusive language towards the referee and from here, Workington threw everything at them and with the crowd acting as 16th man, they launched move after move in order to grab the win, but Hawcoat dug deep and to their credit held on to see the game out.

Workington can take enormous pride in their performance - by far and away their best of the season - though they will look back on the game as two points dropped rather than two points gained.

By John Hastings @ The ESG