Workington Town’s winning streak came to an uninspiring end at the Fibrus Community Stadium on Sunday.
Town fell to a 12-20 defeat to the visiting Dewsbury Rams in their Betfred League One Round 11 tie.
The Rams took the points home thanks to two tries from Jamaican international Keenen Tomlinson, one from Jamie Gill and four goals from the excellent Jacob Hookem. Town’s replies were two first half tries from Lucas Castle and Dom Wear, both converted by Wear.
It didn’t start well for Town, who looked unsettled after conceding an early six again to the visitors, but Workington initially managed to hold back the Rams.
With the veteran Paul Sykes and the ever busy Craig McShane driving the Rams forwards, the visitors looked the more dangerous side, and on six minutes the Town defence failed when a McShane charge set up Gill who barrelled his way through the Town line to crash down under beside the left side post, with Hookem adding the conversion.
It took Workington 15 minutes to get going, and they took advantage of a a penalty awarded for a tip tackle on a battling Jack Stephenson, and Jake Bradley nearly made it to the line but was held up by resolute Ram’s defending.
Workington now had a period of dominance, albeit with Bradley off injured and Lucas Castle on in his place, and came close again with Dave Eccleston twice denied, and finally got on the score sheet 25 minutes in when Castle used his strength to power over the Dewsbury try line through a melee of Rams by the sticks, with Dom Wear converting.
Town then thought they had scored again when Ellis Archer set up Stephenson who charged in to dot down, only for Archer’s pass to be ruled as forward.
The Rams retook the lead with the first of two tries for Tomlinson. It came from an attack down the left wing and then a string of passes moved the ball to the right hand side for a simple try, and a well taken conversion from Hookem.
Town levelled the score just before half time when Wear collected his own wildly and ultimately favourably bouncing grubber kick to dive through three Rams defenders for the try line, converting his own try for 12-12 on the half time hooter.
The second half was an unappetising 40 minutes of rugby league; Town were poor, the Rams were poor but less poor (but only just).
There were few moments of note and attacks at both ends faltered with fumbles, offsides, knock ons and some very dubious tackles (which were intermittently penalised by referee Luke Bland).
Zarrin Galea was Town’s only inspiration amid a lot of perspiration, and it was Dewsbury who took advantage of a penalty, with Hookem adding a goal for a 12-14 lead.
On 68 minutes Tomlinson effectively put the game to bed with his second try, dotting down to the right of the sticks with Hookem again converting for 4/4 and a 12-20 lead.
Liam Copland almost added a fourth for Dewsbury with a sprint up the left wing but he was intercepted and pushed into touch by the desperate but effective diving tackles of Galea and Johnny Hutton just a metre short of Town’s try line.
And that was it, and the small but vocal Dewsbury contingent could celebrate the win.
In other League One results, North Wales Crusaders defeated the Rochdale Hornets 32-12, and the Midlands Hurricanes overcame the Swinton Lions 38-26. Keighley Cougars finally got themselves a win with a 0-52 away victory over Newcastle Thunder.
There is no Betfred League One action next weekend as it’s the Challenge Cup Finals Day, including the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final.
In the League One table, North Wales stay top, the Hurricanes are second, and Town keep hold of third place, with the Rams moving up to fourth.
WORKINGTON TOWN: Zarrin Galea, Dave Eccleston, Spencer Fulton, Rio Corkill, Jonny Hutton, Dom Wear, Ellis Archer, Ross Ainley, Callum Phillips, Stevie Scholey, Cooper Howlett, Jake Bradley, Jack Stephenson, Interchanges (all used): Lucas Castle, Callum Farrer, Guy Graham, Cole Walker-Taylor
DWESBURY RAMS: Craig McShane, Tom Delaney, Caelum Jordan, George Senior, Liam Copland, Paul Sykes, Jacob Hookem, Jamie Gill, Jack McShane, Dec Tomlinson, Keenen Tomlinson, Matt Garside, Louis Collinson. Interchanges (all used): Will Shaw, Jackson Walker, Luke Mearns, Jack Briggs.
