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1st XV
Matches
Sat 24 Mar 2018  ·  Cumbria
Workington RFC
1st XV
Tries: G Morris (2), K Mewse (2), A BoweConversions: K Mewse (3)Penalties: K Mewse
34
52
Whitehaven
ZEBRAS FALL TO HAVEN UNDER LIGHTS  BUT  BONUS POINT KEEPS TOP 4 FINISH HOPES BRIGHT

ZEBRAS FALL TO HAVEN UNDER LIGHTS BUT BONUS POINT KEEPS TOP 4 FINISH HOPES BRIGHT

John Hastings25 Mar 2018 - 21:33
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https://www.workingtonrfc.co.u

Workington 34 Whitehaven 52

Friday night was Derby night with The Ellis radiantly sparkling under the floodlit glow in this rearranged Cumbria League encounter between mid table Workington Zebras and promotion chasing Whitehaven and it was the visitors who shone brightly as they delivered 8 tries to finish with a 54 - 32 victory.

Straight from kick off, Whitehaven were determined to score first and shrugged off a first minute penalty miss when their extensive pressure in Zebras territory paid off with them charging over for a converted try after just 3 minutes on the clock.

Workington regained themselves with a well drilled penalty from Kieran Mewse 3 minutes later but that only seemed to wind up Haven and their payback was both devastating and merciless as their expansive, all out attacking play sliced the Zebras to pieces with 3 clinically taken tries in 8 minutes to go 26 - 3 ahead and secure at least a bonus point.

Lesser teams would have simply buckled under, but Workington eventually found their way and having nullified Haven's rampant tendencies, they were rewarded on 26 minutes with an unconverted try after a long, high punt was effortlessly taken by Gareth Morris who breezed into the corner to score.

However, that was as good as it got for them as Whitehaven responded with 2 more tries in the final 10 minutes of the first half to take a commanding 30 point lead going into the break and the lead was extended further three minutes into the second half with another converted try.

Once again, Workington quickly reasserted themselves two minutes later when they exploited slack Haven defending and it Mewse who reaped the reward as he nipped in for a try which he then converted.

For the next 20 minutes, the game was pretty much even with both sides cancelling each other out in midfield with scoring chances few and far between until Andrew Bowe bulldozed his way through the Haven rearguard to touch down for an unconverted try.

Clearly galvanised by this, Workington began to step up another level as they sensed a consolation bonus point and 4 minutes later they clinched it when Mewse broke away to score his second try, which he again converted.

By this time, Whitehaven had no answer to the Zebras' resurgence and the alarm bells were ringing loud and clear 5 minutes from time after another quick taken high ball found Morris who wasted no time in going over a second try himself, with the ever reliable Mewse on hand to deliver the conversion.

Although a victory still remained improbable, the deficit was now 11 points and there was time to claim another bonus point for a narrow defeat. But with the last move of the game, Whitehaven extinguished that possibility with their eighth try of the match, which was easily converted.

Next week, Workington sign off their home programme whrn they entertain Carlisle Crusaders before back to back away trips to Furness and Egremont. Whilst their hopes of promotion sadly passed long ago, they still have designs of grabbing fourth spot - something that was unthinkable only a few months ago,

By John Hastings @ The ESG

Match details

Match date

Sat 24 Mar 2018

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Cumbria

League position

2
Whitehaven
5
Workington
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Match Sponsor - Gibbons & Company
Match Sponsor - Saint & Co
Club sponsor - Better Bodies
Shirt Sponsor - Radiance Renewable Energy Solutions