WORKINGTON TOWN 36 KEIGHLEY COUGARS 24
DAVE PARKINSON, Fibrus Community Stadium, Sunday
FOUR second-half tries tipped the scales in favour of Workington after Keighley nudged in front soon after the break.
Town opened the scoring after nine minutes when Braden Leigh found space on the left and his inside pass enabled Evan Lawther surge over the line. Jake Carter converted.
But when Workington offloaded in their own half, they gifted the Cougars possession and they scored after 14 minutes when Brandon Pickersgill got in to the left of the posts and Matty Beharrell goaled.
Keighley winger Waldimar Matahwa was heavily involved at both ends. A Beharrell kick agonisingly drifted through his hands before he came to his side’s rescue as Carter slid a clever kick through.
Keighley looked likely to score after half an hour but Alfie Dean’s offload only found Zarrin Galea. The Malta international surged 70 metres and the Yorkshire side couldn’t recover with a wide kick bouncing in favour of Tanna Featherstone, for the winger to score his first Workington try.
It was too wide out for Carter to convert but the hosts flooded forward again two minutes later and Leigh found space on the left before unselfishly kicking infield for Callum Phillips to collect and score. Carter’s goal made it 16-6.
Keighley had the final say in the first half when Beharrell and Pickersgill combined and former Whitehaven secondrow Lachlan Lanskey charged through on the right for Beharrell’s second goal to close the deficit to 16-12 at half-time.
Keighley made the better opening to the second half, making it count in the 50th minute when Dean broke on the right, tip-toeing down the touchline before angling an astute kick infield which Oliver Whitford swept up to score. Beharrell’s goal nudged his side 18-16 in front.
This sparked Workington into action and on the back of the running of Jack Ainley, Lucas Castle and Phillips, they got forward.
An injury to Leigh forced a reshuffle with Jamie Doran moving to fullback and Galea to a wing.
Workington went back in front after 57 minutes when Carter fired a pass left and Galea shot over. Carter converted.
Then clever dummy-half play from Phillips and sleight of hand by Castle paved the way for Ainley to beat a defender to the line.
Next a superb dummy from Featherstone bought him enough time and space to surge down the right wing and score at the flag.
Workington made sure of the points ten minutes from time when Grant Reid crashed through from close range and Carter completed his four-goal haul.
Just before the end, Keighley claimed their fourth try when Matahwa intercepted a Carter pass before his delivery found Max Clarke to score against his former side, Beharrell converting.
GAMESTAR: Jack Ainley was in great form on the right for Workington, often beating the first opponent and proving a stern defender throughout.
GAMEBREAKER: Grant Reid’s score in the 70th minute all but secured the points for Town.
MATCHFACTS
TOWN
1 Zarrin Galea
4 Braden Leigh
21 Evan Lawther
3 Rio Corkill
22 Tanna Featherstone
6 Jake Carter
7 Dom Wear
8 Ross Ainley
9 Jamie Doran
15 Callum Farrer
28 Jack Ainley
26 Tuarae Rawhiti
10 Stevie Scholey
Subs (all used)
14 Callum Phillips
17 Lucas Castle
24 Grant Reid
25 Bear Williams
Tries: Lawther (9), Featherstone (30, 66), Phillips (32), Galea (57), J Ainley (61), Reid (70)
Goals: Carter 4/7
COUGARS
1 Connor Sayner
2 Brad Holroyd
5 Dylan Proud
21 Alfie Dean
22 Waldimar Matahwa
23 Brandon Pickersgill
7 Matty Beharrell
10 Jack Teanby
9 Oli Burton
39 Marcus Green
12 Lachlan Lanskey
33 Eammanuel Waine
11 Lucas Green
Subs (all used)
8 Dan Parker
17 Jordan Schofield
18 Oliver Whitford
26 Nathan Rushworth
Tries: Pickersgill (14), Lanskey (39), Whitford (50), Clarke (79)
Goals: Beharrell 4/4
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 10-6, 16-6, 16-12; 16-18, 22-18, 26-18, 30-18, 36-18, 36-24
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Town: Jack Ainley; Cougars: Oli Burton
Penalty count: 2-2
Half-time: 16-12
Referee: Kevin Moore