Workington Town can look forward to a visit from Super League giants St Helens in the third round of the Challenge Cup.
They didn’t have things all their own way at amateurs Blackbrook but they got through 28-6, building on a 12-0 half-time lead.
Blackbrook were equally keen to win the tie and host their famous neighbours and, particularly in the first-half posed a few problems for the Cumbrians.
But Town prevailed and, perhaps, the only disappointment for coach Jonty Gorley was that his team conceded a converted try late in the contest.
For long periods Blackbrook belied their North West County League status and Town didn’t help themselves as they looked to force far too many options.
They did have three new faces in the line-up in Tobias Gibson, Delaine Gittens-Bedward and Bear Williams while Dominic Wear played his first game since the last one at the end of end of the 2025 season.
Both sides opened the game well and the home side nearly scored the opening try but Town defended this solidly and then went the length of the field to take the lead.
Mason Lewthwaite made the break and then put in a quality kick which was pursued by Braden Leigh and he collected to go in under the posts for Jake Carter to convert.
The following 15 minutes became a game of cat and mouse as Town and Blackbrook traded penalties and field position to little effect as the 20-minute mark passed without any addition to the scoreboard.
Blackbrook had an opportunity from a Town drop-out but the visitors again defended well to keep them out.
It was Town who did score before the interval when an initial run by Zarrin Gale ended with Tuaerae Ruwhati scoring his first try for the club which Carter again improved.
The second half started in very similar fashion with play largely scrappy and Town still not able to dominate as they would have wanted.
As the hour approached the game continued to ebb and flow and Blackbrook were doggedly staying in the contest.
But three tries inside 10 minutes completely swung the game Town’s way, On 57 minutes Wear, Carter and Galea combined well to put Leigh in for his second try, again converted by Carter.
The home side looked as though they were tiring and Town quickly increased their lead when good play by Gibson ended with Weir weaving his way through the defence to score, and again Carter converted.
Town then started to dominate the game and some slick passing between Galea and Leigh ended with Alex Donaghy going over in the corner, but Carter couldn’t maintain his 100% record with the kick.
Disappointingly for Town, Blackbrook did summon up extra reserves of energy and from the last play of the game. James Whalley, their best player throughout, put in a strong run down the middle before putting Dan Moss in under the posts. Moss converted.
Town’s man of the match was Stevie Scholey.
Hear Workington Town’s Jonty Gorley’s verdict after the match below:
- Workington Town are to play their third round Challenge Cup tie with St Helens under the Fibrus Community Stadium lights on Friday, February 6 with a 7.30pm kick-off.
