Another competitive performance from Workington Town saw them fall just short again as they went down 16-10 at home to Batley Bulldogs.
The Cumbrians led 10-6 at half-time but two tries for the Bulldogs early in the second-half gave them the advantage which they just managed to hold until the final hooter.
Even then they were so close to getting the chance to level up as Ethan Bickerdike was denied going in for a try when Batley’s Cumbrian Alistair Leak managed to dislodge the ball with his vital tackle.
Alex Clegg had a try disallowed in another 50-50 call which went against Town again and there were enough positives for coach Chris Thorman for him to believe that first win surely can’t be that far away.
Batley had gone in front when Tom Gilmore launched a kick which saw Lucas Walshaw leap highest to collect and plunge over near the posts. Gilmore converted.
Town gradually got back into the contest which had developed into something of an arm wrestle and on 31 minutes they were level. Cain Barnes charged over for the try which Carl Forber converted.
That lifted Town and just before half-time they took the lead when Clegg got in for the second try but Forber was unable to convert.
Unfortunately for Thorman and his team the lead was lost three minutes into the second half. Centre Josh Hodson drover over for an unconverted try.
Bulldogs showed more drive and purpose, clearly after a half-time dressing down, and on 51 minutes they were back in front. It came from another bomb from Gilmore which was grabbed by Dane Manning for the try which Gilmore converted.
For the last half an hour Town earned their medals in defence and also posed a few problems of their own but couldn’t quite di it, and are still waiting for that first victory.
They now have a week-off before resuming their Championship programme at Barrow in a fortnight,
