Workington Town won their match against the Midlands Hurricanes with a 29-12 scoreline, but the margin of the win, and the final tally of five tries against two, belies a very close game.
It was anyone’s to win until the final 10 minutes when two late Workington tries from Castleford loanee Andy Djeukessi and Hull FC loanee Zach Jebson put the result beyond any doubt.
Midlands Hurricanes came into this Round Fifteen clash in second place in the table and on the back of a tight 22-20 win over the Rochdale Hornets last weekend and a narrow 12-13 home loss to the Goole Vikings the preceding weekend.
Fourth placed Workington Town had lost out to league leaders North Wales Crusaders last Sunday after a brutal second half.
With just two points separating the teams before the game, both were looking for a much needed win. In the Round Two meeting at the Alexander Stadium back in March the points were shared when a late Sully Medworth penalty goal three minutes from time snatched a 16-16 draw for the Canes.
It was a very hot and torrid afternoon at the Fibrus Community Stadium, but a good crowd who had turned out in force to support Workington Town Women’s earlier game – and a win – against Wakefield Trinity, Ellenborough Rangers Youth takeover day as well as Town’s fundraising efforts for Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, Workington Town’s chosen charity for 2025.
The first 10 minutes of the game were end to end as the two teams tested each other out. The Hurricanes’ Todd Horner looked particularly handy and made some excellent runs forward and was a constant threat, and the big and powerful Luis Roberts looked more than handy in defence.
On 10 minutes Midlands opened the scoring with a Ross Oakes try, converted by Brad Billsborough, before Town responded 10 minutes later when Dom Wear set up Jebson for a change down the right wing and a dot down, the try converted by Jake Carter for parity at 6-6.
The Hurricanes could have extended their lead five minutes later but the ball was fumbled on Town’s try line in what looked like a certain score, before a penalty goal from Billsborough gave the Hurricanes the lead again at 6-8.
With the newly returned Levi Atiga, a powerhouse for Town, making valuable yards and battering the Midland’s line, the final score of the first half came on the half hour when Andy Djeukessi intercepted the ball and sprinted clear, running 80 yards down the right wing, cheered on the whole way by the delighted Town faithful, touching down for Town, with Carter converting for a 12-8 half time lead.
As the second half opened the Hurricanes were right back at it, and began to dominate, and on 51 minutes Luis Roberts jumped the highest, collected the ball and went over for a try, but with Billsborough missing the kick it was parity at 12-12.
The crucial score of the game came on sixty two minutes when the ever active Don Wear jinked in for Town’s third try, and with Carter converting, it was 18-12 to Town.
There was still a long way to go, and Town looked like they might struggle to hold onto the lead, but a clever Jamie Doran drop goal made it 19-12 with 10 minutes left on the clock, and with the two score lead Town began to look more comfortable.
Two late tries from Man of the Match Djeukessi diving in (75′) and the impressive Jebson with another unstoppable length of the field charge (77′) made it more than safe for Workington.
With Carter off injured, Wear converted Djeukessi’s try and made it a convincing if slightly flattering final score of 29-12, and put the icing on the cake for an important win for Town.
In other results in League One, Goole Vikings hammered Whitehaven 58-6, North Wales Crusaders stay top of the table after a 20-6 home win over the Dewsbury Rams, and the Swinton Lions demolished Newcastle Thunder 52-10.
This win for Town lifts them into third spot in the table, equal on points with now fourth placed Midlands (17 apiece), both one point behind second placed Swinton (18 points), with North Wales Crusaders topping League One on 22 points.
Workington Town: Zarrin Galea, Dave Eccleston, Rio Corkill, Andy Djeukessi, Levi Atiga, Jake Carter, Dom Wear, Ross Ainley, Callum Phillips, Stevie Scholey, Lennon Clarke, Zach Jebson, Jack Stephenson. Interchanges (all used): Jamie Doran. Lucas Castle, Callum Farrer, Cooper Howlett
Midlands Hurricanes: Todd Horner, Luis Roberts, Ross Oakes, Ryan Johnson, Matty Chrimes, Sully Medforth, Brad Billsborough, Jon-Luke Kirby, Aiden Roden, Liam Kirk, Tom Wilkinson, Josh-Jordan Roberts, Mikey Wood. Interchanges (all used): Danny Barcoe, Zeus Silk, Elliot Morris. Ellis Hobson.
Match officials: Denton Arnold, Simeon Quarmby, Craig Regan and Rob Scott.
