Zebras clinch third after 48-point thriller
Last updated 11:38, Tuesday, 22 April 2008
WORKINGTON clinched third place in the North Lancs Cumbria League when they beat Upper Eden 28-20 at Kirkby Stephen.
Although it was the final game of the season for both teams they threw the ball around in exciting fashion and Workington, in particular, scored some excellent tries.
Yet Upper Eden had come out of the blocks quick and in the opening quarter opened-up a 10-0 lead with a penalty and converted try.
Gradually Workington started to make inroads and by half-time they had established a 14-10 advantage.
Ryan Dobie squeezed over in the corner and then the centre showed his class by slicing through the home defence for a breathtaking try. Kevin Harper converted both.
Workington scored two more tries to take a stranglehold on the game and both were excellent touchdowns.
Backs and forward combined superbly to create the third try for Jason Howarth and then more good work by the pack saw the ball finally spread along the backs and quick hands put Bede O’Connor over. Harper converted both.
Upper Eden rallied in the closing stages and made it interesting. They also spread the ball well and scored two unconverted tries.
Zebras team manager Kevin O’Neil said: “We played some good stuff to round-off the season on a high. We are all delighted to have finished third in the table.
“Ryan Dobie is starting to show his class now after settling into the team, and he deservedly won our man of the match award.”
St. Benedict’s put up a plucky display against promotion play-off finalists Rossendale before losing 13-29 at Mirehouse.
The Whitehaven side will finish bottom of the table whatever happens in Saturday’s re-arranged home game with Wigton, and are facing up to life in the Cumbria League.
But there were a few positives to take-out of their performance, especially as they had senior players missing and the youngsters coming through performed well.
Veteran Ian McQuire said: “That is the positive we take from the season, the fact that we have had to blood so many young players. Ideally they should have had a season in the second team but have been pushed in at the deep end and done well.
“Number eight Stuart Wilson is only 18 but he was man-of-the-match and Kyle Hiddlestone at scrum-half caused them a lot of problems with his darting runs.
“Rossendale deserved their win and are a very good side and have reached the play-off final against Burnage.”
Saints had started well and as a result of their early pressure were awarded a penalty which Kurt Maudling converted.
But already depleted Bennies suffered more agony after only ten minutes when prop David Walker had to retire with a knee injury and the scrum struggled after that.
Rossendale showed their class by scoring three first-half tries to open-up a 19-3 lead.
But Saints started the second-half with renewed vigour and when they were awarded a penalty a quick tap by Hiddlestone saw him find support from Wayne Laverick and he, in turn, put Graham Hartley over for an unconverted try.
Unfortunately Rossendale hit back immediately and scored an unconverted try themselves to lead 24-8.
Still Saints weren’t finished and when Wilson burst through he had Richard Todd at his elbow to take the pass and cross for an unconverted try.
It rather spoiled things for the west Cumbrians when the visitors scored a converted try in the last minute.
