Martin Morgan reports from Derwent Park

Last updated 19:30, Monday, 28 April 2008

Workington Town 20 Swinton 30: Franco Kmet’s second try two minutes from full-time secured Town a bonus point yesterday, but they could just as easily have taken three.

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Dean Burgess on the attack

There was little between the teams, hard-working hooker Phil Wood, who represented Widnes in Super League, giving Swinton that extra touch of class.

Prop Dean Burgess was the pick of the Town pack, with his superb work ethic and classy offloads, while subs Matthew Tunstall and Taani Lavulavu also impressed in the first-half.

Wood made a major impact in only the fifth minute, charging down Jay Duffy’s clearing kick 40 metres from the Town line.

He got a lucky bounce and headed off on an unstoppable run to the sticks.

Chris Brand added the extras and then could easily have added a touch down of his own, only for a touch judge to spot a double movement.

Town still looked to have last week’s cup clash against Super League Hull KR in their legs in the opening exchanges.

But they finally found their feet on 21 minutes, Carl Forber selling a dummy on Swinton’s 40-metre line. His inside ball went to Kmet who crossed with ease.

Forber converted and followed up with a penalty. It came after Stephen Dawes made good ground out of defence and then attracted a penalty in his own half when held down.

Town made good progress upfield and with the Lions caught offside, Forber booted his team in to the lead for the first time.

The stand-off then added another penalty goal after more good work from Dawes, who was held down again following a burst down the middle, and Jay Duffy, who was impeded as he too went for a quick play-the-ball.

Workington had the edge but the visitors still looked dangerous, the experienced Martin Moana’s flick pass almost putting Barry Hamilton in at the corner.

Swinton reclaimed the lead on the stroke of half-time. When Chris Hull broke from his own half, Town full-back Mark McCully looked to have him covered.

But three defenders who rushed back merely served to get in each other’s way and the stand-off squeezed out a pass to Brand who crossed out wide.

The hooter sounded as Brand’s kick dissected the posts, to put his team 12-10 up.

Town got off to the worst possible start after the break. Ryan Campbell spilled the ball in his own half and Gary Hulse took full advantage.

Winger Marlon Billy touched down the scrum-half's kick to the corner a fraction before it rolled dead.

Brand’s conversion attempt hit an upright, but he was then on target with a penalty following further Town errors.

Scott Burgess’s dummy-half kick to touch went out on the full, and a Town high tackle handed Swinton the two points.

Burgess made up for his errant kick with a fine break out of defence, but Forber’s attacking bomb was too deep.

Town were now in top gear, and on their next set, Dawes was held up over the line following a Jason Mossop break.

But on 66 minutes, Swinton struck the killer blow. An attacking kick seemed to hang in front of Dawes and Dean Gorton swooped for a try. Brand’s conversion put Swinton 24-10 ahead.

Hulse and Forber were then sin-binned for a scrap on the turf following a tackle, and the incident was put on report.

Town attracted the resulting penalty and winger Ryan Blair displayed neat footwork to bravely dive over in the corner.

Full-back Wayne English put Hamilton in for Swinton's fifth try with five minutes left on the clock, Brand goaling.

In the closing moments, Mossop’s determination in chasing down a kick forced a Lions’ drop-out, and Kmet pounced for his second try, Forber converting.

It was the least Town deserved.

MATCH FACTS

Town: McCully, Dawes, Marsh, Mossop, Blair, Forber, Duffy, Benjafield, S Burgess, D Burgess, Campbell, Miller, Kmet. Subs: Young, Tunstall, Robinson, Lavulavu

Tries: Kmet 2, Blair. Goals: Forber 4

Lions: Forber, Hamilton, Brand, Gorton, Billy, Hull, Hulse, Line, Wood, Hayes, Johnson, Rigby, Sykes. Subs: Ashall, Moana, Tyrer, Ball

Tries: Wood, Brand, Billy, Gorton, Hamilton. Goals: Brand 5

Attendance: 644

Referee: Mike Dawber

Star Man: Dean Burgess