Just as Workington Zebras rounded off 2019 with victory in the Cumbria League, so they began the new year still on the victory path with a convincing 31-19 success at bottom club Creighton

The Zebras conceded a try in the first minute when they misjudged the flight of the ball from the kick off enabling the Creighton forwards to work their way towards the line where scrum half Dean Lambert was able to touch down. George Dudley converted and the home side led 7pts to nil.

Workington started to get back into the game with the forwards looking lively in the loose; and in the 13th minute Jack Todhunter who was to on and be the man of the match touched down near to the posts following a quickly taken free kick. Scott Rooke converted.

By this time, Workington seemed to be in the ascendency, but missed first time tackles and wrong options kept the score at a stalemate until Joe O’Donnell took hold of a loose ball behind his own 22 metre line broke a tackle and raced away to score, and the hosts led 12 – 7.

However, the Zebras fought back and on 30mins after forwards and backs gained valuable ground the ball was shipped out along the back line where Skipper Jonny Howarth beat a defender and passed out to Rooke who scored in the corner

If the hosts scores quickly in the first half then the Zebras beat that with a try from Chris Davidson who was first to get to the bouncing ball direct from kickoff and take two defenders with him over the line.

Then in the 53rd minute Todhunter gave the Zebras some beating space as he brushed aside three defenders in the 22 to score between the posts.

With the wind at their backs the Zebras could not quite get their kicking game right and this allowed Creighton to continually run the ball back at then, however when they did get near to the line they looked likely to score and their final and bonus point try came in 67th minute when Rooke chased a little grubber kick from Howarth to pass two defenders and dive down on the ball to score. Sam Robinson was by this time on kicking duties and duly converted.

In the final 10 minutes they had chances to increase that lead but it was the hosts who completed the scoring in the 78th minute when a mistake near the touchline enabled Dudley to pinch the ball beat a defender and score under the posts, from where he effortlessly added the conversion.

Workington move up to eighth in the Cumbria League and will hope to keep the winning trail going this Saturday at The Ellis when they take on Carlisle Crusaders.

By John Patterson @ Sycamore Lane

Workington RFC

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