MIDLANDS HURRICANES 30 WORKINGTON TOWN 24
IAN GOLDEN, Avery Fields, Sunday
TOBY WARREN and Matty Chrimes claimed late tries to help seal Midlands’ play-off place as Mark Dunning’s men came from behind to make it five wins in their last six league outings.
It’s a big achievement for the Birmingham side in the first-ever second-tier season, and the fact they’ve achieved a top-ten place with three games to go is a big credit to coach Dunning, his support staff and all the players.
Hurricanes took the lead in three minutes. Lewis Else neatly found a gap and dived over to score. Sully Medforth goaled.
They soon added a second. From a scrum, won on Workington’s 20-metre line, Todd Horner bundled his way over wide out.
Town got back into the game on 16 minutes when Evan Lawther took advantage of a bounce, when it looked like the Midlands defence had it covered, to catch and score. Jake Carter converted.
Midlands nearly hit back straight away after winning a scrum from kick-off. Else kicked well on the fifth tackle, but Chrimes fumbled as he was going for the line.
Then, after Midlands won another scrum, Aiden Roden was held up in the last tackle of that set.
But they made no mistake from their next attack. A well-worked set was completed by Chrimes scoring wide out.
And just as Midlands were prevented from notching a fourth try, Oscar Doran picked up a lob near to his own try-line and ran nearly 100 metres to score. Carter converted, and Workington were just two points behind.
Workington nearly took the lead on 37 minutes after winning a penalty and six-again, but it was credit to the Midlands defence for keeping their visitors out.
Instead it was Midlands who extended their advantage. Tom Wilkinson dived over just before the half-time hooter sounded, with Chrimes adding the goal to put his side 20-12 up at the break.
The second half was far tighter, and for the first 20 minutes, neither side got near to penetrating, as most sets were being completed.
That is until Midlands gave away a scrum on the halfway line, and Jamie Doran twisted his way over to score from the resulting set. Carter converted to bring the score back to 20-18.
Workington’s line wasn’t budging, and Midlands were missing Medforth, who had picked up an injury just before the interval.
As Workington continued to attack, eventually they scored again. Dom Wear found a gap to run in under the sticks with Carter easily converting for a 24-20 lead on 69 minutes.
But Midlands weren’t going to give up the points easily. With five minutes to go, after winning a penalty 20 metres from the Workington line, Warren, despite having three players challenging him, managed to stretch out and ground the ball and level the contest.
And from the next home set, Chrimes produced one of his trademark acrobatic dives, then brilliantly converted his own score.
GAMESTAR: Midlands winger Matty Chrimes with two tries and for keeping his cool with the final conversion.
GAMEBREAKER: The decisive try from Chrimes on 78 minutes.
MATCHFACTS
HURRICANES
1 Todd Horner
2 Matty Chrimes
5 Luis Roberts
4 Ross Oakes
23 Aidan McGowan
19 Sully Medforth
7 Lewis Else
8 Jon Luke Kirby
9 Aiden Roden
10 Tyler Dickinson
11 Tom Wilkinson
3 Ryan Johnson
20 Toby Warren
Subs (all used)
12 Oliver Roberts
15 Elliot Morris
26 Ethan Newboult
28 Isaac Shaw
Tries: Else (3), Horner (9), Chrimes (24, 78), Wilkinson (40), Warren (75)
Goals: Medforth 1/1, Else 0/1, Chrimes 2/4
TOWN
1 Zarrin Galea
2 Oscar Doran
21 Evan Lawther
3 Rio Corkill
22 Tanna Featherstone
6 Jake Carter
7 Dom Wear
8 Ross Ainley
9 Jamie Doran
24 Grant Reid
28 Jack Ainley
11 Mason Lewthwaite
25 Bear Williams
Subs (all used)
26 Tuarae Rawhiti
17 Lucas Castle
20 Tyce Walmsley
13 Jack Stephenson
Tries: Lawther (16), O Doran (27), J Doran (60), Wear (69)
Goals: Carter 4/4
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 10-0, 10-6, 14-6, 14-12, 20-12; 20-18, 20-24, 24-24, 30-24
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hurricanes: Matty Chrimes; Town: Jamie Doran
Penalty count: 2-4
Half-time: 20-12
Referee: Kevin Moore
Attendance: 350