Workington Town 34 Dewsbury Rams 24: Workington Town threw themselves a Championship lifeline with a hard-fought home victory over Dewsbury Rams.

Town were 22-8 down but then they staged a superb comeback to score three tries in a six-minute period to crush the Rams' hopes.

Dewsbury's indiscipline cost them dearly with a red card for Joel Farrell and three players sent to the sin bin during the course of the match.

Workington did not always take advantage of their extra numbers but in the final 20 minutes it showed and Town turned on the gas.

Tee Ritson and Jason Mossop had great games both in attack and defence while Brett Phillips, Marc Shackley and Tom Walker all led from the front in the pack.

The only blow to the Workington side was the departure from the field of Brett Phillips with what looked like a hamstring injury.

Town got off to a great start when Carl Forber put out a long looping pass to Matty Gee and he touched down in the corner, but Sammut missed the conversion.

Paul Sykes put the ball into touch from the kick-off but Town could not make it count as they knocked on close to the line.

Town made it 6-0 when Sammut slotted over a penalty goal in front of the posts.

Declan Hulme made a good break and then Town got a penalty for a high shot on Liam McAvoy but there was no change in the scoreline.

Tee Ritson was close to extending the home side's advantage when he tried to touch down in the corner but he just put a foot into touch.

Jarrod Sammut broke away but took the wrong option, choosing to kick instead of passing to the supporting Ritson.

Dewsbury were then down to 12 men as Tony Tonks was sent to the sin bin for coming in late to a tackle and striking.

Sammut slotted over the resulting penalty and Town were 8-0 ahead.

Brett Phillips looked to feed Sammut off the deck but his pass was judged forward by the referee as the half-back sped off.

Then, in the final 12 minutes of the half, Dewsbury hit back. Jason Crookes was held up as he tried to cross the line from dummy-half and then after the ball ricocheted about, Dale Morton scooped it up and touched down, with Sykes converting.

And, with four minutes to go to the break, Town gave the ball away close to their own line and influential full-back Josh Guzdek stretched out an arm to score.

Sykes missed the conversion but Dewsbury were in front for the first time at 10-8.

Just before the hooter, Joel Farrell was judged to have caught Brett Phillips in the face with his knee and was shown the red card with Phillips also sent to cool his heels in the sin bin for retaliating.

Into the second half and it was the visitors who began strongly, looking to get a handle on the game.

They ran in two quick tries from Sykes and then Morton, both converted by the former to take the score out to 22-8.

Then Ritson saved what looked to be a certain try for the Rams as he intercepted the ball in the air and it proved to be a turning point.

Callum Phillips got a hand to Sammut's short kick to get a crucial score for Town and Sammut converted.

Dewsbury did reply with a penalty goal from the boot of Sykes and Jason Mossop was called on to dive on the ball for another try saver.

The centre then quickly broke back upfield to give his side some hope.

Matt Groat was sent to the sin bin for Dewsbury for an off-the-ball obstruction and this was the advantage Town needed.

They made their opponents pay with a strong spell that saw them collect three tries and take back the game.

First Tom Walker burst over the try line from short range taking defenders with him.

Then Liam McAvoy, Shackley and Walker combined to set up some great field position.

Jack Murphy went close to scoring before the ball came out to the left hand side and Mossop cut back inside and scythed through the Rams defence to score.

Gee then collected his second of the afternoon as he stretched over the try line and with Sammut converting all three, Town were 32-24 ahead.

There was time for another Sammut penalty and another yellow card for Dewsbury as Sykes went to the bin for something he said to the officials after his side knocked on.

But Town held out for two crucial points in the fight for survival in the Championship. Now they have to regroup for the battle with neighbours Whitehaven next Sunday.

Workington Town: Murphy, Hulme, Gee, Mossop, Ritson, Forber, Sammut, Gordon, C Phillips, Shackley, B Phillips, Walker, McAvoy. Subs: Doran, Coward, Verlinden, Scholey

Tries: Gee (2), C Phillips, Walker, Mossop; Goals: Sammut 7

Yellow card: B Phillips (39)

Dewsbury Rams: Guzdek, Morton, Sykes, Crookes, Uasiele, Speakman, Kain, Groat, Hemingway, Stringer, Hale, Trout, Brown. Subs: Farrell, Adamson, Spicer, Tonks

Tries: Morton (2), Guzdek, Sykes; Goals: Sykes 4

Yellow cards: Tonks (24), Groat (63), Sykes (79)

Red card: Farrell (39)

Referee: Tom Grant

Crowd: 527