Mike grabs points as Zebras jump to third
Last updated 13:51, Wednesday, 16 April 2008
WORKINGTON jumped into third place in the North Lancs Cumbria League table when they beat Didsbury Toc H 43-0 at the Ellis Sports Ground.
Wigton had missed their chance to take third when they lost at Upper Eden 15-14 last week.
Ironically the Zebras go to Upper Eden next Saturday to play their final League game when victory will confirm a third place finish in their first season back at this level.
Team manager Kevin O’Neil said: “We did not anticipate finishing as high as this so it’s been a big bonus. It sets-up the squad for next season when we will be trying to improve on this.
“We will certainly be going to Kirkby Stephen next week looking for the win to clinch third sport.”
Didsbury could still go down and that was reflected in a spirited performance in the first-half when they competed well and gave Zebras some trouble.
After Workington had raced ahead with two converted tries the visitors fought back with two touchdowns, neither of which were improved. At 14-10 the home side had a fight on their hands.
But they gradually started to assert themselves and had pulled ahead by half-time at 22-10. In the second-half they were in control for most of the time and were clear-cut winners in the end.
Full-back Mike Hawley was to emerge as the man of the match, not just for his two eye-catching early tries but for three superb try-saving tackles when Didsbury had their good spell midway through the first-half.
Both of Hawley’s tries were converted by Kevin Parker and later in the half he added a penalty.
But after Didsbury had come back with their two tries it was Ryan Dobie’s first try for the Zebras in his second spell with the club which got them going again.
The tries came at regular intervals in the second-half as both centre Chris Davidson and winger Mark Hunton used their pace to get away and over.
The pick of the tries, though, was the one scored by forward David Bowe. He went down the blindside and then charged 30 yards to the line before touching down. Harper converted all three second-half tries.
Didsbury Toc H remain third bottom and the two teams below them didn’t make any progress on Saturday.
St Benedict’s are bottom and look doomed after they lost 59-21 at Oldham but De La Salle had to call off their home game with Wigton because the pitch was waterlogged.
It leaves Wigton with two games to re-arrange against the bottom two – at Salford and Mirehouse.
Saints were hit by an avalanche of points in their game at Oldham, conceding four tries in the first 15 minutes.
They had left Whitehaven in good time but ran into heavy traffic en-route and it was a case of getting off the bus, changing and going onto the field to play.
Before half-time they got on the score-sheet with a well-taken try by young winger Kurt Maudling, who landed an excellent touchline conversion to make it 35-7 at the break.
In the second-half Saints adapted well and really took the game to Oldham with centre Richard Todd and Martin McMullen in the second-row doing outstanding work.
Jamie Jardine made a strong break to put Maudling in for his second try and the young winger again added the conversion.
Saints now had the bit between their teeth and they reduced the gap to 35-21 when number eight Stuart Wilson went over and again Maudling added the conversion.
Saints secretary Ian McQuire said: “We were really in the game and thought it was winnable. Another score then would have put us right in charge but unfortunately we lost the ball on their 22 and they broke to score a converted try.
“In the last ten minutes we were down to 13 men because of injuries and the fact that we had used all our replacements.”
Saints do look down but still have two home games left – against second-in-the-table Rossendale and to Wigton.
