Perfect 10 for Zebras as Rooke hat trick puts Egremont in check.

It was a double header at The ESG between Workington and Egremont as not only were league points at stake, but also a semi final place in the Cumbria Shield.

As it was, Zebras comfortably secured both prizes with a convincing 34 - 10 triumph - their 10th straight win - to tighten their grip as league leaders and set up a home semi final with Silloth in the New Year.

Workington were up for it straight from kick off as they proceeded to swamp their visitors' 22, but they were frustrated by an alert and resolute backline. Bede O'Connor was unlucky not to open the scoring on 7 minutes when he was brought down agonisingly close to the tryline.

After soaking up relentless pressure, it was about 20 minutes before Egremont finally made inroads into Zebras territory and they had a golden chance to take the lead shortly afterwards with a penalty, but Craig Peet's kick fell just short.

Zebras got back in the game and finally broke the deadlock on 28 minutes as James Watkins' pass found Chris Boyd who slipped through to touch down. Scott Rooke added the conversion.

That try deflated Egremont and after putting up valiant resistance for so long, a few heads began to drop and it was only time before Workington would increase their lead, which they did 5 minutes later when a four man move ended with Scott Rooke charging into the corner for an unconverted try.

On the stroke of half time, the lead was now 19 - 0 when the referee awarded a penalty after David Todhunter's inch perfect pass was crudely knocked down by an Egremont hand. Again, Rooke effortlessly converted.

The second half began with the visitors threatening to break their scoring duck, but were undone by Workington's trenchant rearguard who were focused on keeping their first clean sheet of the season.

Another bonus point was sealed by Zebras on 58 minutes when Rooke cut Egremont to ribbons with a dynamic sprint into the corner for another unconverted try.

The momentum that Egremont accrued earlier in the second half had been punctured with heads once more dropping and further humiliation followed on 62 minutes when a high, hopeful punt from Lee Wordsworth caught them flat footed and the ball was gleefully met by Hodgson who breezed in for his 2nd try, which was then converted by Rooke.

Having wrapped up maximum points, Workington started to relax and Egremont seized the opportunity to finally break through and get on the scoresheet 8 minutes from time when Bobby Hall was on the end of a neat pass and move sequence to go over for an unconverted try.

However, Workington were never in any danger of throwing away the match and with barely 2 minutes remaining, Kieran Ritchie broke from halfway before feeding the ball to Rooke who stormed in to complete a quality hat trick then adding the conversion and thus rightly named man of the match.

Zebras finished the game with 13 men as first Pat Gilmour, then Rooke were sin binned for careless obstruction. Egremont took advantage of this and in stoppage time, Patrick Williamson went over the whitewash for another unconverted try.

By John Hastings @ The ESG