MATCH REPORT: ELIMINATION PLAYOFF - MIDLANDS HURRICANES 24-22 WORKINGTON TOWN

David Hewitt celebrates scoring on his return to the squad (Credit: Andy Shaw)

Canes hold off determined Town to advance in historic playoff race
By Tom Kiernan-Wilson

Having made history by making the Betfred League One playoffs for the first time since the club joined the professional ranks in 2015, the Canes hosted the Elimination Playoff against Cumbrian outfit Workington Town. The Canes had already done the double over Town this season, with a historic 26-16 win over Workington at Derwent Park and a 34-22 win towards the end of the regular season during the battle for the remaining playoff places.

In both previous fixtures the Canes started strongly , however it was the visitors who had a strong start as the initial kick-off was spilled by Todd Horner before bouncing dead, earning the Cumbrians a goal-line drop out. Town took full advantage of this early opportunity as full-back Jordan Burns squeezed through the Canes defence to score to the right of the posts just two minutes in (0-4). Veteran half-back Carl Forber had no issues scoring the resulting conversion (0-6). Things looked like they might go from bad to worse for the home side as Workington appeared to slide over for their second after just five minutes, however the referee quickly pulled back play for an obstruction in the build-up.

Momentum quickly shifted to the Canes, however, as the resulting set saw a nice grubber kick from Jake Sweeting earn us a goal-line drop out and David Hewitt, returning from injury after last playing in our away victory against North Wales in July, made full use of the opportunity as he ducked, danced and weaved his way to dive over the try-line and score (4-6). His half-back partner Jake Sweeting had no issues slotting the conversion from left of the sticks (6-6).

Matty Chrimes definitely enjoyed that one (Credit: Andy Shaw)

Just a couple of minutes later, we earned ourselves a penalty 10 metres out from the Town line as Tom Wilkinson copped a smack round the chops taking the ball in. Jake Sweeting, knowing this was playoff rugby and all points count, called for the kicking tee and nudged us two points ahead (8-6). Jason Bass also extended our lead further as he beat the Town defender to Sweeting’s bomb to the corner, however the winger could not juggle the ball in the contest which eventually bobbled dead.

With just over the first half of the first half done, another opportunity to add points presented itself as Workington conceded another penalty 40 metres out from the Town line. Despite the aways fans’ heckles ringing out around the stadium, Jake had no issues kicking the penalty between the sticks (10-6). Just two minutes later we extended our lead to two scores as Jon-Luke Kirby took in a short pass 15 metres out before busting the Town line and rolling over Jordan Burns to dive over and score (14-6). Once again, Jake Sweeting’s kicking form saw our lead extended to 10 points (16-6).

Captain Jon-Luke Kirby forces his way over despite the efforts of the Town defender (Credit: Andy Shaw)

Despite the positives of the preceding 20 minutes, Workington immediately narrowed the lead as we failed to deal with the resulting kick-restart and gifted Town a scrum 10 metres out. Brad Brennan, who long-time Canes fans may remember from his 2016 and 2017 loan spells with us, used his sizeable frame to bulldoze over the line from close range to score right of the posts (16-10). Once again, Carl Forber scored the resulting conversion (16-12).

With a little over five minutes to go, Workington’s discipline came back to haunt them once again as we earned a penalty right in front of their sticks from 15 metres out and Jake Sweeting called for the kicking tee for a third time. Sweets had no trouble adding two points from the boot (18-12). The final five minutes saw the sides trade sets but neither team was able to shift momentum before the half-time hooter, meaning the Canes went into the changing rooms with a six-point lead.

Half-time: Midlands Hurricanes 18-12 Workington Town

To the chagrin of Canes fans buoyed by the first half, the second half started as a carbon-copy to the first as the Canes once again failed to deal with a high bomb and conceded a try as Jason Bass’ attempt to trap the ball led to it bouncing into the grateful arms of Ethan Bickerdike who raced past the winger and Todd Horner to score in the left-hand corner (18-16). Carl Forber’s conversion from the touchline was wide of the mark, but the momentum was very much with the visitors.

Seven minutes later, the Cumbrians took the lead as a loose carry early in our set saw us concede a knock-on 20 metres out from our line. Having failed to execute a training-ground manoeuvre in the preceding set, there were no errors this time as Jordan Burns spotted a gap in the line to evade the Canes defence and score in the right corner (18-20). Carl Forber had no issues kicking from the touchline this time as the ball sailed between the posts (18-22).

For the next 15 minutes the game evened out, with both sides seeking to take control of the game and pinning the opposition defence behind their goaline to apply pressure at the end of their respective sets. However, the momentum of the game would sharply shift in favour of the Canes when a nice grubber from David Hewitt would earn us another goal-line drop-out and, from the resulting set, Hewitt spotted Chrimes in acres of space and kicked into the grateful arms of Chrimes who slid over in the left-hand corner (22-22). Jake Sweeting’s attempted conversion was dragged wide, and the sides were level with just over 10 minutes to go.

Matty Chrimes slides over to even the scores (Credit: Andy Shaw)

With just over five minutes to go, the pivotal moment of the game took place as a high-shot from the visitors presented us with an opportunity to kick a fourth penalty of the afternoon from just over 40 metres out. Not put off by his missed conversion minutes earlier, Jake Sweeting called for the kicking tee and slotted the attempt between the posts to put us ahead (24-22). The visitors valiantly attempted to cause an upset in the dying moments, however a resilient Hurricanes side held on and refused to give up the lead as a number of players collapsed following the full-time hooter. And with that, the Canes made history once again as they emerged victorious in their first ever play-off game.

Rochdale Hornets emerged 30-18 victors over Hunslet in the League One Qualifying Playoff later that afternoon, earning them a trip to Keighley Cougars in the Qualifying Semi-Final. That result means the Canes will now travel to the South Leeds Stadium to face the Parksiders in the Elimination Semi-Final, with the stakes again being “do or die” - the winner advances to the Preliminary Final and the loser goes home as their season comes to an end.

The Supporters Club will be putting on a coach for fans wanting to travel to Leeds to cheer on the boys - details will be confirmed once the fixture details are locked in.

Man of the Match:
Jake Sweeting (Sponsored by Barkston Plastics)

Scoring sequence:
0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 6-6, 8-6, 10-6, 14-6, 16-6, 16-10, 16-12, 18-12, 18-16, 18-20, 18-22, 22-22 and 24-22.