Workington Zebras' chequered Cumbria League season continued as they went down 26 - 36 at The Ellis to fellow mid table straddlers Egremont.

The opening ten minutes was a spell to forget for the Zebras as not only did they miss two penalties but also conceded the opening try as Egremont made the most of their first genuine attack to touch down before adding the conversion.

However, Workington slowly found their feet and before long it was they who were laying assault into their opponents' half with constant exerted scrummaging and on 16 minutes this policy paid off handsomely with captain Andrew Bowe delivering his signature "CrashDown" try, followed by an easy conversion by Tom Lawson to level the scores.

Clearly stung by this, Egremont began to step up a gear and four minutes later they cut the Zebras backline to ribbons with smart running and clinical passing which produced a try in the corner, though this went unconverted.

Workington had chances to get back into the game - especially with Jonny Howarth calling the shots with menacing attacking surges - but if it wasn't poor handling that let them down, it was resolute Egremont defence that kept them at bay and two minutes from time, the visitors delivered a sucker punch by scoring against the run of the play with an unconverted try that Zebras disputed was illegal owing to a foot in touch, but their appeal fell on deaf ears.

Any disappontment from that perceived injustice was quickly dissolved five minutes into the second half when Mark Murphy rounded off a 25 yard run to cruise home for Zebras' second try, with Lawson once again on hand to supply the conversion and reduce the deficit to only three points.

But Egremont once again swiftly retaliated as three minutes later they exposed hesitation and slack defending in the Zebras ranks to register their fourth try and bank a bonus point.

Workington tried to regain the initiative but despite the best efforts of Howarth, Lawson, Bowe and Murphy they simply could not find a way through Egremont's dogged defensive cordon and just as they pulled off a sucker punch in the first half, the visitors conjured up a classic one-two as more smart pass and move rugby left the Zebras out cold on the hour with two converted tries in three minutes to effect seal maximum points.

Pride was now the order of the day for Workington and they took advantage of Egremont seemingly relaxing with two tries in the final ten minutes - first with Bowe this time breaking clear from the scrum to go over for his second try which Lawson again converted and then with time almost up, Grant Reid finishing off a neat movement with an unconverted try in the corner to clinch a bonus point of their own.

The games keep on rolling along as Workington are back at The Ellis this Saturday to take on Hawcoat Park.

By John Hastings @ The ESG

Workington RFC

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