Workington Town completed a League Two double over Cornwall to cement their place in the play-offs.
It wasn’t as easy as last month’s big win at Derwent Park (since renamed the Fibrus Community Stadium) but 34-16 was good enough for the points.
Cornwall had actually gone into the game on the back of two successive victories for the first time in their short history.
Town had led 20-4 and in a more-even second-half tempers became frayed and there were a couple of scuffles with players from both sides piling in.
The Cumbrians started strongly and went in front after only seven minutes. Luke Collins was ruled to have played the ball incorrectly and Town made the hosts pay as in the resultant set skipper Steve Scholey charged over and Ciaran Walker added the extras.
The feisty exchanges started on 16 minutes with Scholey sent to the bin. Almost immediately Cornwall reduced the arrears as they spun the ball wide for Coby Nichol to dive over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Town were just back to full strength when they scored a second try. Malik Steele powered through to get the touchdown and Walker added the extras after Town made good use of their set following a penalty.
On 31 minutes Town scored again. A tricky little grubber from Walker was fumbled by Nichol and Wigan loanee Reagan Sumner picked-up to score an unconverted try.
Three minutes later a high, hanging kick from Walker was well judged by Sean Sabutey and Town’s top try scorer leapt to collect before diving over in the corner.
The Choughs needed a quick score in the second-half and they got it when Adam Rusling put in a clever little kick behind the Town defence and Cameron Brown was there to make the touchdown. Rusling converted for 10-20.
But Workington responded immediately with Jordan Burns supporting well to take the final pass and get the try.
On 54 minutes Cornwall cut the deficit to eight points. Rusling followed up his own kick to make the touchdown and then added the extras.
Town came back strongly, exerted strong pressure on the home line and when the ball was spread wide Sumner went over for his second try which Walker converted from the touchline.
Brown was sent to the sin-bin on 68 minutes and then two minutes later there was a full-scale fracas but no cards were shown.
The referee had to take action, though, soon afterwards when there was another full-scale eruption and this time Liam Whitton was shown a yellow card to reduce the home side to 11 men.
But there was only one more unconverted try for Town on 72 minutes when space was created out wide for Aaron Burns to go over.
