London Skolars have a slender lead at the break in their clash with Workington Town.

On an emotional afternoon for the home side, as they remembered both legend Harry Archer and team manager Brian Ritson, who have recently died, Town started on a bright note.

They got off to the best possible start with a try after just two minutes. On the back of field position due to a penalty, the home side were putting the pressure on at the Skolars try line.

And it was a neat little grubber from the boot of Jamie Doran that allowed Perry Singleton to dot the ball down without a hand on him.

Workington got their heads up quickly and they pressed again in the next set as Doran again caused problems for the London side, with a great little pass out of the tackle to Declan O'Donnell. But then the final kick this time was just too far for the chasing attackers to be able to touch down.

Unfortunately a penalty then went in the opposite direction and Skolars were given a helping hand to the other end of the field and they took full advantage with Judd Greenhalgh charging over the line and Neil Thorman converting.

Town looked to try and get back into the game as Carl Forber loops the ball to the far side but when Sam Hewitt flicked the ball out to Jonathon Walsh, the winger fumbled and a try went begging.

The visitors took the lead with a penalty kick from the boot of Thorman as they looked to get in the ascendency.

But then a brilliant defensive effort from Town got them back on the front foot, as players combined to push the Skolars back around 20 metres and as they slipped up then the home side got the ball back in a great position.

Tylar Mellor was causing all kinds of problems for the Skolars defence as his pace was proving effective.

But it was Doran who pulled Town back in front as he danced through the defence to touch down after some good pressure, but this time Forber could not convert.

However, the lead was short lived as on the half hour mark Skolars came back when James Barran came in on the angle and went through unscathed to touch down in between the posts, leaving Thorman an easy two-pointer.

A great run from Walsh as he skipped through the Skolars defence but when he was hauled down there was some afters which saw the home side earn the penalty.

But they could not find the crucial score and it was London who took a 14-10 lead in at the break.