MATCH REPORT: WORKINGTON TOWN 16 – 26 MIDLANDS HURRICANES

Hurricanes cause devastation in Cumbria as we crash through Workington

Despite leaving The Alex last Sunday on the back of a 44-16 defeat to Betfred League One leaders Oldham, both Canes and Oldham fans acknowledged that the scoreline did not reflect the game and the sheer determination a 12-man Canes outfit showed against the bookies favourites to secure automatic promotion to the Betfred Championship for 2025. That determination was on display once again at the Fibrus Community Stadium, with a commanding effort resulting in the Canes leaving Cumbria with the two points for the very first time.

From the first minute the Canes looked the stronger outfit, and it only took a few minutes before we first threatened the Town line as Todd Horner made a trademark impressive break before the ball finally made its way to Tom Wilkinson who was tackled with the ball 5 metres out on the last. Five minutes later, we went one further as Ryan Johnson continued his prolific try-scoring form as he leapt into the left corner to score our first of the afternoon (0-4), however Jake Sweeting was unfortunately unable to add the extras from out wide. He was, however, able to make amends just a couple of minutes later as back-to-back penalties conceded by Workington presented us with an opportunity to add two points from 5 metres out (0-6).

Five minutes later the first of what turned out to be multiple altercations occurred as a crunching tackle by the Canes was deemed high by the referee, leading to a number of players coming together before being dispersed by the referee. With a penalty just 10 metres out from the Canes line, the home side took full advantage as Bickerdike scored in the right corner despite the best efforts of the Canes defence (4-6). Walker, like Sweeting, was unable to add the extras from out wide as his kick struck the post and bounced back. That hiccup aside, the Canes were determined not to let the momentum shift and Callum McLelland came within inches of kicking a superb 40/20 under pressure just a few sets after the restart. The Canes were able to do one better just a few minutes later as the Sweeting/McLelland partnership bore fruit, with McLelland's deft grubber bouncing into the arms of Sweeting who rounded the fullback to score our second (4-10). Sweeting added the extras from just left of the sticks (4-12).

With just over five minutes to go in the first half, Workington struck back against the run of the play. A Town pass saw the ball seemingly spilled on contact with the Canes defence, however once Todd Horner knocked the ball on during the counter-attack the referee pulled back play to award Workington a scrum just 10 metres out from the Midlands line. Town's lineup for this game included three new powerful signings from overseas, and new signing Ponepate Tongia crashed over from short range to narrow the deficit to four (8-12). With a conversion just right of the sticks, Walker had no problems adding the extras (10-12). Just before half-time Jarrod Sammut tried a cheeky chip that inadvertently paid off as it bounced off the body of a Town player and was gathered by McLelland, only for there to be a deemed knock-on leading to a Workington scrum. The home side were unable to capitalise as the half-time hooter sounded, meaning it was the Canes that went into the changing rooms with a slender lead.

Half-time: Workington Town 10 – 12 Midlands Hurricanes

The start of the second half saw Workington come out of the blocks with some strong carries and punishing defence as the Canes struggled to make metres. Despite this, it was the Canes who always looked like scoring first as Callum McLelland sold a beautiful dummy to run approximately 40 metres before being pulled down just a metre from the Town try-line. Captain Matty Welham came close to finishing off McLelland's effort, however the Town defence combined to bundle him into touch. Just a few minutes later we were struck by injury as acting hooker Brad Billsborough landed awkwardly whilst making a tackle and was assisted off the pitch, meaning we would play the final 30 minutes with only three interchanges (and Danny Barcoe having to come back on for another big stint).

On 55 minutes, the Canes restored their two-score lead as Callum McLelland sold his third dummy of the afternoon to bamboozle the Town defence and canter 30 metres to score under the sticks (10-16) and his partner in crime Jake Sweeting added the extras from in front of the posts (10-18). Just five minutes later, we extended this to a three-score lead as a short pass from Jake Sweeting found a gap for Tom Wilkinson to glide through for our fourth of the afternoon - and his eighth of the season – in the right corner (10-22). Jake Sweeting once again added the extras from out wide (10-24).   

As we entered the final quarter the game took an ugly turn as a frustrated home crowd, baying for blood, demanded that Town kick things up a gear. A second altercation between the sides, this time between Ryan Brown and a Workington player, saw the referee deem Brown the instigator and promptly sin-binned him on the 65th minute. Just 60 seconds later a third altercation took place as a tackle by Liam Welham led to the teams coming together before being dispersed by the officials. Seemingly sensing that things would not improve unless a couple of players got sent for a sit-down, the referee went on to sin-bin Liam Welham and Workington's Stevie Scholey for instigating the coming together. With 14 minutes to go, it was 11 v 12. It was ultimately Town who took advantage of the previous melees as a Walker bomb on the last was put down by veteran Jarrod Sammut despite fumbling the initial catch and being tackled mid-score (14-24). Walker had no problem adding the extras from in front of the sticks (16-24).

With just over six minutes to go and the game still very much boiling over, Town's Ciaran Walker was sent off for what appeared to be a punch to Matty Welham's face that was spotted by the touch judge. With the sin-binned players back on, it was the Canes who would finish the match with a man-advantage and all the momentum. After making Workington concede a goal-line drop out the subsequent set saw Town's discipline worsen and concede back-to-back penalties just 20 metres from their own try line. With the game wrapped up and simply needing to manage the closing minutes out, Jake Sweeting duly added two points from in front of the posts (16-26). Just before the hooter went there was a fifth and final altercation as Stevie Scholey – only just back on the pitch from his sin-binning – ran over 20 metres to scuffle with a Canes player following a collision, however the referee elected to bring proceedings to a close to the jubilation of the Hurricanes faithful.

A simply fantastic performance from the visitors as they made history once again this season by defeating a Cumbrian team away from home. We now turn our attention to four back-to-back home games as we welcome Cornwall (12th May), Newcastle Thunder (19th May), North Wales Crusaders (26th May) and Keighley Cougars (2nd June) to The Alex in what will undoubtedly be a crucial period as we fight for a place in the 2024 Betfred League One playoffs!

Man of the Match:

Callum McLelland (sponsored by Gllee UK Ltd)

Scoring sequence:

0-4, 0-6, 4-6, 4-10, 4-12, 8-12, 10-12, 10-16, 10-18, 10-22, 10-24, 14-24, 16-24 and 16-26.