Last updated at 15:41, Monday, 18 May 2009

Workington Town 18 London Skolars 24: London Skolars’ second trip to Cumbria this year bore fruit as they ended their 10-month wait for a victory – at the expense of a woeful Workington Town.

Steven Roper

Skolars have long been the whipping boys of the Rugby League and were beaten in the Challenge Cup this year by local amateurs Wath Brow Hornets.

Although Town’s form has been below par this season, this was a match that fans still expected them to win with London failing to register a victory since last July.

But in a lacklustre display it was the Skolars, under the guidance of Cumbrian coach Callum Irving, who wanted the win more.

Unhappy supporters chanted their disgust and unfurled a banner saying ‘Listen to the fans’ and their mood did not get any better as the afternoon wore on.

Town were 12-0 down before they realised they were in the game, first Matt Thomas stepped through the gap to score and then John Paxton followed him over.

Skolars were looking the better value for money as they came out of their own half with Corey Simms initiating the break and it went through a couple of hands before Paxton finished off by touching down.

Paul Thorman converted both, leaving Town looking bewildered and out of ideas.

But they came to life as the half drew to a close and hit back to take the lead at the break 18-12.

On 27 minutes Darren King burrowed his way over from dummy half after Jarrad Stack had took the ball to the line and Carl Forber added the extras.

Then came the try of the season so far as winger Martyn Wilson brought the ball away from his own line and raced the length of the field.

Finally the fans had something good to shout about as Wilson dodged the would-be tacklers to cross the whitewash and Forber was again on target with the two points to level matters at 12-12.

Andrew Beattie then touched down, only for the referee to bring play back for an obstruction.

But Town were starting to put things together and the forwards were making better yards, led by Paddy Coupar and Stack.

And, with three minutes remaining, they got their reward as Mike Whitehead crashed over the try line.

Town chose to tap a penalty and Stack once more drove towards the line, the ball then came back out and a couple of moves later, Whitehead surged through an opening to touch down.

Forber converted and things looked to be on the up at 18-12 – but it was not to last for long.

Just six minutes into the second half, London winger Oliver Fountain brought them back into the game with a try after he was released by Matt Thomas.

The Town defence looked to just stand off him as he rounded in to score and Thorman tagged on the extras to go level once more at 18-18.

Town did not look dangerous at all in the second period as they went through a catalogue of errors, mistimed runs, poor ball handling and direction – then the rain came in to add further misery.

They spurned two good chances near the Skolars line with dropped ball starting to cost them very dear.

And at the other end of the field, the Skolars could scent a victory and they went for it, getting themselves into a position to attempt a drop-goal, which went wide.

Then, with 12 minutes remaining, they took the lead thanks to a second try from Fountain and the boot of Thorman ensured the advantage was six points.

In a tense final few minutes, Town did put the pressure on but a Forber kick went just beyond the chasing players and the full time hooter sounded – much to the delight of London and sheer dejection for Town.

Chairman Dave Bowden said this was the lowest point in his time at Town and after this display I can understand why.

Town: Duffy, Wilson, Beattie, Dawes, Marshall, Forber, Roper, Brindle, King, Stack, Robinson, Coupar, Hobson. Subs (all used): Whitehead, Benjafield, McKenna, S Burgess.

Tries: King, Wilson, Whitehead; Goals: Forber 3.

London: Simms, Iwenofu, Paxton, Thomas, Fountain, Honor, Thorman, Williams, Nissen, Rule, Aggrey, Bloom, Burke. Subs (all used): Bell, Vine, Spencer, Obuchowksi.

Tries: Fountain (2), Thomas, Paxton; Goals: Thorman 4.

Referee: Peter Brooke (Manchester).

Attendance: 353.

Star Man: Paddy Coupar.

First published at 11:23, Monday, 18 May 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk