WORKINGTON TOWN 13 WHITEHAVEN 6
JORDAN WEIR, Fibrus Community Stadium, Sunday

WORKINGTON regained the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy by beating Whitehaven in atrocious conditions which got even more harsh throughout the contest, which was the sole pre-season hit-out for both West Cumbrian neighbours.

In the opening quarter, the sides were fairly evenly matched as the wind limited opportunities.

The closest either came to scoring during this period was when Whitehaven’s Ellison Holgate was held up over the line after hitting a post protector, thanks to a huge defensive effort from Town.

Whitehaven took the lead just into the second quarter of the contest with Holgate setting up his own four pointer.

The hooker dived out of dummy-half before putting in a kick in towards the try-line. Workington fullback Alex Donaghy dived along the wet surface attempting to collect the ball but it bobbled and Holgate, chasing his own kick, collected and grounded between the posts. Former Workington man Ciaran Walker added the extras.

Workington had won the toss and chose to have the strong wind at their backs, and they took advantage of that during the second quarter as they jumped on the front foot and scored two tries to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

They worked well to the right and passed out wide to find Malta international Zarrin Galea. The Australian native finished coolly in the corner on 28 minutes despite pressure aplenty from the Whitehaven defence, diving acrobatically to ground the ball.

Jake Carter’s conversion attempt looked almost impossible in the conditions but the halfback settled himself and nailed the kick to level things up.

It was more confusion from a kick which led to Workington taking the lead. A Carter boot split two Whitehaven defenders with both looking to claim possession. The lack of communication was obvious as the players clattered into each other, leaving the bouncing ball free for ex-Whitehaven hooker Callum Phillips to collect and dive over.

This time Carter’s conversion was much more straightforward and he duly made it 12-6.

In the second half conditions became tougher still, with the rain and wind the main factors as the match was mainly played in the middle third of the pitch.

The rivals huffed and puffed but it was difficult for either to produce the quality of rugby they needed to break down the opposition.

The best of the opportunities came from Workington as Galea used the gusts to his advantage by kicking the ball up in the air and collecting. Workington had the away defence at sixes and sevens, but Evan Lawther couldn’t collect.

While having the wind at their backs, Whitehaven’s chances were limited and while they forced the occasional goal-line drop-out, they couldn’t make used of them.

Carter scored the second half’s only point twelve minutes from the end after a knock-on as Whitehaven dropped the ball while bringing it away from their own line.

During the resulting set, Carter was 15 metres out in centrefield and slotted over a field-goal to cement the victory and local bragging rights.

GAMESTAR: Workington skipper Stevie Scholey led from the front.

GAMEBREAKER: Jake Carter’s field-goal established a seven-point lead for Town and given the awful weather conditions which limited both sides’ offensive output, Whitehaven didn’t look likely to respond.

MATCHFACTS

TOWN
5 Alex Donaghy
1 Zarrin Galea
3 Rio Corkill
19 Spencer Fulton
2 Oscar Doran
6 Jake Carter
4 Braden Leigh
15 Callum Farrer
14 Callum Phillips
17 Lucas Castle
21 Evan Lawther
22 Jack Ainley
10 Stevie Scholey
Subs
18 Jude Lupton
24 Grant Reid
12 Jake Bradley
8 Ross Ainley
20 Tyce Walmsley
7 Dom Wear (not used)

Tries: Galea (28), Phillips (34)
Goals: Carter 2/2
Field-goals: Carter (68)

WHITEHAVEN
18 Cole Walker-Taylor
19 Dave Eccleston
2 Mitchell Todd
4 Ethan Bickerdike
5 Jay Weatherill
6 Ciaran Walker
7 Jack Newbegin
10 Jordan Thomson
9 Ellison Holgate
20 Marc Shackley
12 Rio McQuistan
11 Connor Holliday
13 Jack Kellett
Subs (all used)
21 Joe Lowe
17 Aaron Turnbull
16 Brad Brennan
15 Ellis Nixon
22 Brett Bailey
24 Lewis Brown

Tries: Holgate (21)
Goals: Walker 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 12-6; 13-6

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of The Match
Town: Stevie Scholey; Whitehaven: Ellison Holgate

Penalty count: 5-4
Half-time: 12-6
Referee: Adam Williams