By John Walsh

Published at 11:24, Monday, 16 July 2012

Workington Town 50 South Wales 10: Workington Town reached the summit of Championship One with a 10-try demolition of South Wales Scorpions.

Elliott Miller

The target now, with five games to play, will be to stay on top of the pile and they have it in their own hands to go the distance as their two rivals for the title are among the end-of-season opposition.

Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium, a week on Thursday, will be the stiffest test although Town’s best performance so far was in the 42-18 defeat of the Dons at Derwent Park.

South Wales were nothing like Donny but they proved dogged and determined opponents, showing lots of spirit throughout until three tries in the last seven minutes killed them off completely to leave the scoreboard looking a bit lop-sided.

All three of those late scores went to Elliott Miller, Town’s top try-scorer who had also scored twice in the first ten minutes of the game. His five try haul showed why he is regarded as one of the best finishers in Championship One.

Although the final scoreline was rather harsh on a spirited South Wales performance Town’s class and power really shone through in the closing ten minutes after they had been stung by the Scorpions’ second try of the game.

Miller is proving to be a real powerhouse and clinical finisher for Town this season. He is a regular scorer and has been in outstanding form throughout the campaign rivalling Jamie Thackray for Man of the Season so far.

The south Cumbrian is going to be a key player for Town next season in the Championship as the Derwent Park club step-up a level, to find stiffer opposition than the Scorpions could provide at Derwent Park.

Miller started and finished Town’s ten-try romp, scoring twice in the first ten minutes of the game, and topping that with another three in the last seven minutes.

Stand-off Peter Lupton presented Miller with his easiest try of the afternoon to set Town on their way on eight minutes. Lupton danced into space beyond two static defenders and the pass was delayed just enough to give Miller a walk in at the corner. Carl Forber landed the first of his five goals.

Two minutes later, after persistent Workington pressure Dave Peterson flung out a quick pass which wasn’t the best but Miller took it low down, and in one movement stepped round his opposite number to finish with precision by the flag.

South Wales were always dogged and determined in their work, keeping the ball tight and down the middle for the most part. But on last tackle they lacked imagination as if they had possessed a better kicking game could have tested Town more.

They did not concede again until the 16th minute and it was Jarrad Stack who finished off in typical marauding fashion after slick hands across the line had opened up the Scorpions cover.

If Miller stole the headlines and most of the plaudits, Town’s other winger Mark Calderwood showed why he has England international honours on his CV. Two minutes from the break he scored an excellent try.

He appeared to be hemmed in on the touchline but sensed there was an opening on the inside and quickly cut past three bemused Scorpions before racing clear to score under the posts.

Scorpions had their best attacking moment of the half right on the break when Ben Gilbert got to within two yards of the line but his pass, flung out for his winger Kevin James went into touch.

Town started the second half in slick fashion and within five minutes had increased their lead. Forber laid on an inviting pass and from five yards there was no stopping Jamie Thackray as he thundered over.

Two minutes later and the South Wales defence was breached again. This time Graeme Mattinson got his head-up in mid-field, saw the right running line and just hared away from the Scorpions’ defence for another excellent try.

There was just a possibility that the Scorpion would fold after that score but they re-grouped and came back fighting, putting together their best spell of the game.

Persistent work by Nathan Mossop got him a try from close-range on 52 minutes and although it went unconverted, it gave the Scorpions a boost.

Town had to defend with purpose but unfortunately for Scorpions their luck was out on 63 minutes. Steve Parry tried to kick through on 63 minutes only for the ball to hit a Town body and fly loose. Stack picked-up on his own 20-metre line and set-off on a 50 yard dash up field.

With back-up either side he slipped the pass to Forber who in turn saw Calderwood steaming-up in support and the well-placed off-load ended with the winger outpacing the cover to score his second try.

South Wales gamely came back again and were rewarded with a good try on 69 minutes. Winger Dalton Grant showed great persistence to make the line after he went from 15 yards. Courtney Davies added the conversion.

But the last ten minutes belonged to man of the match Miller. He came in field to step round the last defender and complete his hat-trick on 73 minutes; showed great opportunism to get on the end of a clever Lupton banana kick when the Scorpions’ defender should have been favourite and then with two minutes left got on the end of a long Thackray pass to go over in the corner for his fifth.

Workington Town: Carter, Miller, Rooney, Mossop, Calderwood, Lupton, Forber, MacDonald, Mattinson, Coward, Phillips, Stack, Petersen. Subs (all used): Newton, Robinson, Whitehead, Thackray.

Tries: Miller (5), Calderwood (2), Stack, Thackray, Mattinson; Goals: Forber (5)

South Wales Scorpions: D. James, K. James, Gilbert, Parker, Grant, Owens, Parry, Crosby, Mossop, Dallimore, Burke, Pope, Bateman . Subs (all used): R. Davies, Howells, C. Davies, W. Davies.

Tries: Mossop, Grant; Goals: C. Davies

Crowd: 653

Half-time: 22-0

Penalties: 9-9

Referee: Joe Cobb

Star man: Elliott Miller – a class act now. Five tries, two more disallowed and a generally excellent all round game.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk