After a break from Betfred League One action, with Workington Town having played just one match so far, which ended with an away draw at table toppers Midlands Hurricanes, Town knew they had another tough test at the Fibrus Community Stadium against the North Wales Crusaders.
Carl Forster’s side have won their first two League One matches, and won their last three games against Town.
In a game of two halves, it started badly for the home side from the off, with an early knock-on in the first tackle giving possession to the visitors who opened the scoring by advancing up the left wing with centre Cole Oakley touching down for an unconverted try on just two minutes.
The game then became a grinding war of attrition with some big hits from both sides.
Town’s Levi Atiga and Guy Graham both made useful yards, and Jake Bradley put in some powerful runs and went close to scoring but lost the ball just a metre short of the Crusader’s try line, and then Callum Phillips was held up on the the line.
On 33 minutes an unlikely looking run from Town’s Man of the Match Jake Carter resulted in a try when Carter fooled the Crusaders defence and dummied his way through and crashed over the whitewash, converting his own try for a 6-4 lead.
Three minutes later another Crusaders penalty allowed Stevie Scholey set up Jack Stephenson who ran in uncontested to dot down under the sticks, with Carter again converting.
As the first half closed Carter took advantage of another North Wales’ penalty awarded by referee Tara Jones, this one for a high tackle on Cole Walker-Taylor by Jamie Dallimore, and took the two, slotting the ball over for a 14-4 half time lead.
The Crusaders came out in the second half with renewed vigor, with Lloyd Roby causing real problems for Town’s defence, and the visitors took advantage of errors from the home side to set up camp in the Town half, with the waves of attacks eventually resulting in a ball steal and a try for Ollie Brookes who charged down the left wing and dived in just before the hour, with Dallimore adding the conversion.
What might have been a comfortable lead for Town was now just four points and Town had to hold on. They couldn’t.
It was Jordy Gibson who levelled the scores with the Crusaders’ third try on 72 minutes, weaving his way through the Workington defence to touch down, and Dallimore secured the points for the visitors, adding the crucial conversion for the 14-16 win.
After the match Workington head coach Jonty Gorley said he was frustrated with the result. He added: “We defended our goal well, but basic things win you games, and Fozzy (North Wales head coach Carl Forster) has got them doing that.
“It’s two points in the League gone. We were nowhere near in the second half. It’s a massive lesson and we have to learn a bit of game management. In this League whoever does the basics right is going to win games.”
Next Sunday Town have another tricky encounter with an away game at Rochdale Hornets on Sunday (3pm).
The Hornets have won two of their opening three games.
WORKINGTON TOWN: Zarrin Galea, Levi Atiga, Cole Walker-Taylor, Dave Eccleston, Will Evans, Jake Carter, Dom Weir, Ross Ainley, Callum Phillips, Guy Graham, Cooper Howlett, Jake Bradley, Jack Stephenson. Interchanges (all used): Jamie Doran, Stevie Scholey, Lucas Castle, Callum Farrer.
NORTH WALES CRUSADERS: Lloyd Roby, Kieran Taylor, Patrick Ah Van, Cole Oakley, Ollie Brookes, Jamie Dallimore, Jordy Gibson, Josh Eaves, Jack Haughton, Chris Barrett, Sam Wilde, Liam Cooper, Olly Davies. Interchanges (all used): Joe Baldwin, Shaun Costello, Paddy Jones, Ant Walker.
