Town blow it as Rochdale hit back to win at the death

Tony Harrison reports from Derwent Park

Last updated 20:21, Monday, 31 March 2008

Workington Town 28 Rochdale Hornets 30: Town coach Dave Rotheram must be wondering just what he has to do to get a victory against a professional outfit this year.

16-6 to the good at half-time, and 28-18 up with eight minutes remaining, Town blew the chance of recording their first victory in three NL2 starts by gifting Hornets three second-half tries.

Town outplayed the visitors for large amounts of the game and were well worth their half-time lead.

However, Rochdale took the lead on the first serious attack, in the eighth minute, when John Cookson crashed over from short range. Carl Sneyd goaled from in front of the posts and the visitors led 6-0.

But Workington put together some of the best rugby they've played this season and, in the 13th minute, they were rewarded when, after good drives from Dexter Miller and Dean Burgess, Carl Forber lofted the ball into the left-hand corner where Ryan Blair did exceptionally well to gather and touch down.

With subs Matthew Tunstall and Taani Lavulavu making a bit impact, Town extended their lead in the 23rd minute Ryan Campbell put Jason Mossop over, Forber converting this one to edge Town ahead at 10-6.

Recalled Stephen Dawes superbly collected a high ball and only a tackle from Andy Gorey prevented the breakaway, before a magnificent tackle from Blair on Wayne Corcoran in the 31st minute prevented the Hornets' loose forward grounding the ball over the try line.

And those two instances of Town's effort were rewarded in the 34th minute when, following a superb break by man of the match Mark Routledge, Shaun Lunt made ground before Forber fed full-back Martyn Wilson to go over. Forber added the two and Town led 16-6, an advantage they head at the break despite Tunstall being yellow carded in the 37th minute for tripping Corcoran.

But a great first half was about to be wasted as, firstly, Blair dropped the ball in the tackle after recovering a Chris Forster kick through on the last tackle, Ian Sinfield gathered to put Martin Ainscough in. Sneyd added the extras and Hornets were back in it at 16-12 in the 43rd minute.

And, in the 48th minute, Rochdale were gifted the lead when Iain Marsh's pass was intercepted on the halfway line by Andy Gorey, Sneyd again goaling to see the Hornets into an 18-16 lead.

Rob Lunt then fed Routledge who was brought down a few metres short before the ever-reliable Shaun Lunt darted over from acting half in the 55th minute after good work from Burgess. Forber added the two and Town held a 22-18 lead.

Forber then added a penalty after Roachdale had interfered with Tunstall at the play-the-ball, before Town extended their lead to 28-18 when, after a good drive from Miller, Routledge's pass put Steven Dawes over in the corner with just eight minutes to go.

But Andrew Marsh then crashed through Franco Kmet to score in the 74thminute, Sneyd converting, before Town's misery was completed three minutes from time, Chris Forster intercepting on halfway to run in unopposed to tie the scores at 28-28. Sneyd's simple goal completed the victory for Hornets.

MATCH FACTS
Town: Wilson, Dawes, Routledge, Mossop, Blair, R Lunt, Forber, Burgess, S Lunt, Beaumont, Marsh, Miller, Kmet. Subs: Campbell, Tunstall, Coward, Lavulavu.
Scorers – Tries: Blair (13), Mossop (23), Wilson (34), S Lunt (55), Dawes (72).
Goals: Forber 4/6

Hornets: Andrews, Brown, Sneyd, Stout, Gorey, Ainscough, Foster, Newton, Elston, Cookson, Farrimond, Sinfield, Corcoran. Subs: Highton, Callan, Robinson, Marsh.
Scorers – Tries: Cookson (8), Ainscough (43), Gorey (48), Marsh (74), Forster (77). Goals: Sneyd 5/5
Penalties for: Town 9, Hornets 6

Referee: Gareth Hewer (Whitehaven)

Attendance: 677

Star Man: Mark Routledge