Workington Town torment winless Keighley Cougars

KEIGHLEY COUGARS 6 WORKINGTON TOWN 46
CHRISTIAN LEE, Cougar Park, Sunday

A FIVE-TRY first-half barrage blew Keighley away and secured Workington a fifth consecutive league victory.

The Cougars crossed first after just seven minutes, however, five successive Town tries before the break took the game away from the winless home side, and the Cumbrians rounded off the victory with second-half tries from Guy Graham, Jake Bradley and Dave Eccleston.

Keighley’s forwards were on the front foot early, and their hard work was rewarded when Brad England barged over from close range. Izaac Farrell tagged on the extras.

Farrell could have extended their lead moments later as he jinked his way through the line, but the halfback lost control of the ball as he looked certain to score.

The Cougars were left to rue the error as Workington levelled the game shortly afterwards, before taking the lead on the 20-minute mark.

Powerful centre Rio Corkill displayed fast feet to step back against the shifting Keighley defensive line and touch down close to the posts for Workington’s first try. Jake Carter made no mistake adding the extras to even the scores.

The visitors then took the lead through second-rower Jake Bradley, who shaped to find his centre before diving over himself despite the best efforts of his opposite man. Carter was off target from out wide.

Keighley were well in the game and had chances to reduce the deficit, but three late tries from Workington took the game away from them.

Zarrin Galea displayed a devastating turn of pace to get on the outside of Brad Holroyd before finding Dave Eccleston on the inside to finish off the move under the posts.

Workington were then gifted a try when Connor Sayner, on debut at fullback for Keighley, misjudged a high kick into the breeze and Cooper Howlett was on hand to gather the ball and touch down under the posts.

Finally, on the buzzer for half time, Galea popped up from behind his halfback to shoot through a gap in the line and complete a slick set play.

Carter added the extras for all three scores.

Playing downhill after the break, Keighley fought hard to get back into the game and eventually Lachlan Lanksey crossed the line ten minutes into the second half. However, the final pass back inside from Sam Ackroyd was adjudged to be forward, and play was brought back for a Workington scrum.

This was the closest the home side came to mounting a comeback, and any remaining hopes were dashed when some smart ruck play created space for Guy Graham to barrel over and extend Workington’s lead.

Bradley then powered over from close range for his second shortly after and Carter brought up the 40-point mark with his successful conversion attempts.

Perhaps summing up the fortunes of the two sides so far this season, with just minutes left on the clock Keighley looked to spread the ball wide but it was spilt by Alfie Goddard, and Eccleston streaked away to round off Workington’s victory with a concluding converted score.

GAMESTAR: The difference between the sides in the first half were the halfbacks and Jake Carter in particular marshalled Workington’s attack expertly, playing a key part in much of their succes.

GAMEBREAKER: Workington’s three late tries in the first half took the game away from Keighley and turned a slender four-point lead at the half hour mark into a commanding 22-point lead at the break.

COUGARS
32 Connor Sayner
2 Brad Holroyd
27 Alfie Goddard
4 Junior Sa’u
19 Junior Nuu
6 Izaac Farrell
41 Sam Ackroyd
10 Mark Ioane
14 Harry Bowes
16 Jordan Schofield
11 Brad England
12 Lachlan Lanskey
13 Aaron Brown
Subs (all used)
9 George Flanagan
23 Leo Aliyu
29 Lucas Green
31 Charlie McKler

Tries: England (7)
Goals: Farrell 1/1

TOWN
1 Zarrin Galea
2 Levi Atiga
39 Spencer Fulton
3 Rio Corkill
20 Dave Eccleston
28 Jake Carter
9 Jamie Doran
8 Ross Ainley
15 Cole Walker-Taylor
10 Stevie Scholey
12 Jake Bradley
11 Cooper Howlett
13 Jack Stephenson
Subs (all used)
24 Lucas Castle
16 Guy Graham
14 Jude Lupton
25 Callum Farrer