Workington Town suffered last gasp agony at Dewsbury as they lost 19-18 to a drop goal in the dying seconds.
Chris Thorman’s side looked to have gained their first point of the season with a gutsy come-back in the closing quarter only to be denied by Michael Knowles’ late drop goal.
Town had led narrowly 6-4 at half-time and it was really in the third quarter of the game that they lost control and slipped 18-6 behind.
But tries from Alex Young and Caine Barnes pulled them level, with the aid of Jamie Doran’s conversions – the second score coming two minutes from the end.
Defences were generally on top for most of the first-half with scoring opportunities kept to a minimum.
Young looked to be over for Town on 20 minutes but knocked-on in the process.
Then at the other end Adam Ryder was held up over the line for Dewsbury.
It was the Rams who went ahead on 27 minutes with a clever scoot from dummy half by Reiss Butterworth but Paul Sykes couldn’t convert.
The lead lasted only four minutes and loanee Will Tate played a big part for Town.
He burst down the wing before feeding the ball back inside for Alex Clegg to touchdown. Doran nailed the conversion for a 6-4 lead which they held until half-time.
Within four minutes of the restart Dewsbury had regained the lead.
Ollie Greensmith put in a swerving run round the Town defence to score by the posts and Sykes converted.
Dewsbury gave themselves added breathing space on 54 minutes after Town had been penalised for a late challenge on Harry Kidd and Sykes put over the kick.
Following a Workington knock-on the Rams scored again on 57 minutes. They worked the ball nicely for Greensmith to go in for his second of the afternoon and Sykes converted.
Workington came back strongly and there had to be some strong defence from the home side.
However, they deservedly made the break-through on 68 minutes to set-up a rousing finish. Young went in for the try in the corner which Doran converted.
Then two minutes from the end Workington drew level. A good kick from Doran was pursued by Caine Barnes who made the touchdown. Doran converted for 18-18.
But then agony for Thorman and his players when Dewsbury snatched the win in the dying moments with a drop goal.
Although Town closed down Sykes he was able to shift the ball to Michael Knowles and he put the kick through the posts.
