Workington Town regained the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy at the Fibrus Community Stadium with a 13-6 win over Whitehaven.
In awful weather conditions the two sides did well to make it a tight and tough contest, but in the rain and wind it was more a survival of the fittest.
Town had led 12-6 at half-time and the only score of the second-half was a field goal from Jake Carter, which summed up the game and how it was played in the conditions.
Early on the game was an even enough contest, with both sides enjoying spells of possession although Town did look the more likely to score.
However it was Whitehaven who took the lead on 23 minutes when Ellison Holgate dinked a ball over a confused Town defence and followed up to score the game’s opening try.
Ciaran Walker added the extras.
The home side wasn’t behind for long and year’s star man Zarrin Galea put in an early candidate for try of the season, and Carter gauged his touchline kick perfectly to square the game.
It was Town who scored again after Whitehaven suffered a disaster in defence when Walker and Cole Walker-Taylor crashed into each other.
It left Callum Phillips in to score and Carter’s conversion made it 12-6 at the break.
The second half was very much a war of attrition with ever-worsening weather causing problems for both sides.
Carter gave his side some more insurance when he put over a field goal and excellent game management from Town saw them through to the finish line.
Workington: Alex Donaghy, Zarrin Galea, Rio Corkill, Spencer Fulton, Oscar Doran, Jake Carter, Braden Leigh, Callum Farrer, Evan Lawther, Callum Phillips, Lucas Castle, Jack Ainley and Stevie Scholey.
Interchanges: Jude Lupton, Grant Reid, Jake Bradley Ross Ainley, Tyce Walmsley and Dom Weir.
Whitehaven: Cole-Walker Taylor, Dave Eccleston, Mitchell Todd, Ethan Bickderdike, Jay Weatherill, Ciaran Walker, Jack Newbegin, Jordan Thomson, Ellison Holgate, Marc Shackley, Rio McQuinsten, Connor Holliday and Jack Kellett.
Interchanges: Bradley Brennan, Joe Lowe, Aaron Turnbull, Ellis Nixon, Lewis Brown and Brett Bailey.
Hear Workington Town’s Jonty Gorley’s verdict after his side’s victory below:
Hear what Whitehaven’s Anthony Murray had to say below:
