After the sweet champagne of last week’s dramatic Junior Plate semi-final victory, it was the bitter taste of flat prosecco for Workington Zebra Finches as they went down 26-14 to Keswick Falcons at The Ellis, writes John Hastings.
In this latest North 2 league fixture Keswick had been looking to complete “The Double”, having narrowly won 5 – 0 at Davidson Park in December.
Within five minutes they opened the scoring when their first serious attack ended with Lilly Hodgson racing under the posts to cue up an easy conversion by Victoria Mitchell.
Workington responded with a few impressive surges in their opponent’s half, especially from Nicole Stewart, Elsa Whelan and Stephanie Radcliffe. All they had to show for it was a finely taken penalty by Stewart on 22 minutes that cut the deficit to four points.
Clearly spooked by their hosts’ domination, Keswick began to work their way back into the match and within four minutes they increased their lead after Lucy King cut the Finches back line to ribbons by storming home for a try that Mitchell converted easily again.
With the icy rain heavily coming down allied to a biting chilly wind, this slowed down both sides’ play for the rest of the first half, with the exception of another Stewart penalty for Workington six minutes from the break.
It was the Finches who began the second half the strongest and Stewart knocked over her third penalty on 50 minutes to pull it back to 14 – 9.
But Keswick rode the storm and five minutes went further ahead after fine scrummaging saw the ball eventually find Cheska Horsburgh who left the Finches clutching thin air as she nipped in for the Falcons’ third try which Mitchell converted.
Workington were still refusing to concede as they began to make further attacks in Falcons territory, especially from Whelan, Stewart, Radcliffe and Sophie Weir.
On 63 minutes their hard graft was rewarded when another well-crafted pass-and-move was rounded off by Whelan who touched down in the corner for an unconverted try.
That was as good as it got for the Finches as Keswick were determined to secure victory and after twice going close, they wrapped up maximum points and a bonus point to boot with their fourth try 10 minutes from time when Bethani Fearns sprinted into the corner to touch down.
This time round, Cullinan missed her conversion but it was academic as the Falcons closed out the match despite one more Workington surge.
Following the result, Workington sit fifth in North 2 West – one place above bottom side Upper Eden Eagles, whom they visit in their last league fixture on April 16, but before that there is one more game at The Ellis on April 2, with the visit of Ryton.
