Workington Town were thoroughly outplayed at Derwent Park as they crashed to a 54-4 defeat by Sheffield Eagles.
A master class from scrum-half Anthony Thackeray led Sheffield around the Park, probing and creating opportunities for his team-mates.
Sheffield had started well and scored after only three minutes when strong pressure on the Town line was first of all held up, but then Joel Farrell got over. Izaac Farrell
The Eagles thought they were in again on 18 minutes when full-back Jason Bass dotted the ball down but it was chalked-off for obstruction.
In the early stages the Eagles had the ascendency, mainly because experienced scrum-half Anthony Thackeray was running the show.
Indeed on 21 minutes Thackeray played a part in a fine move from distance which ended with Bass touching down in the corner and Izaac Farrell added a good touchline conversion.
Then it was Thackeray himself on 26 minutes who sold a couple of dummies and darted through from ten metres for a classy try to stretch the Eagles lead to 18-0 after Izaac Farrell converted.
Thackeray continued to torment Town and just on the half hour he initiated another strong attack which ended with centre Ross Oakes muscling his way over for the fourth try, again converted by Izaac Farrell.
It got worse two minutes later and needless to say it was Thackeray who came up with the trickery to unlock the Town defence. This time it was a little chip over the Town defence for Izaac Farrell to collect on the bounce and go over under the sticks before converting.
Town were losing discipline to add to their worries and from a penalty after a high shot Bass should have got his second try but knocked on with the line invitingly open.
Thackeray’s only blemish on a superb first-half display was almost on the hooter when he attempted a simple drop goal from in front of the sticks – and missed.
It didn’t get any better for Town at the start of the second-half as Sheffield were over again within five minutes when Thackeray put Ben Jones-Bishop in for the sixth try, again superbly converted from wide out by Izaac Farrell.
Town at last did have a chance to build some momentum following a knock on and eventually Curtis Teare went over in the corner for an unconverted try.
The Eagles were kept quiet as Town certainly looked tighter in defence, with faster line speed, but they were able to add three more converted tries in the last quarter.
Mikey Wood got through for his first try in Sheffield colours and he was followed over by Matty Chrimes and Vila Halafihi, all converted by Izaac Farrell.
