» April 22nd 2001
» Town 60 : 10 York

Workington ran out worthy winners after an initial scare when they fell behind twice in the opening quarter of the match. Town then took control and ran in 11 tries and increased their 'points for' total to move into eighth place in the NFP and keep their play-off hopes well on track.

A fine team performance and some individual displays saw Town playing the expansive rugby that Gary Murdock has instilled. Graeme Lewthwaite stood out with a 5-try haul, but excellent displays from Tane Manihera, Owen Williamson, Lokeni Savelio, Jamie Beaumont, Hitro Okesene and Lee Allen also deserve a mention.

The first score of the day came in the 2nd minute. Town conceded a penalty for offside and York were soon deep into the Town half. Rob Roberts kicked early in the tackle count and Shaun Austerfield beat Lynton Stott to kick through to score. Roberts missed with the conversion attempt.

York continued to press and in the seventh minute they played some nice flowing rugby and kept the ball alive on the last tackle and gave away the possession after a high kick was caught in wind and came back into the attacking line and was knocked-on.

The first Town points of the day came after 10 minutes from a Manihera penalty. York were punished for holding down and Manihera easily slotted over the kick to reduce the York lead to 4 - 2.

The advantage swung to Town in the 15th minute. Beaumont made a good break and the ball came to Manihera who released Allen. The scrum half had the line at his mercy and ran on to score under the posts. Manihera added the conversion to put Town into the lead.

Two successive sets of six after the tackle count was wiped out, saw York deep in the Town half. Town were forced to defend and while facing a third set of six the line was breached. York prop Mick Hagan powered over the line despite the attention of three Town tacklers. Roberts was successful with the conversion to put York into a 10 - 8 lead.

The last 18 minutes of the half saw Town take control and start to enforce themselves on the home side. A good handling move by Town saw Lokeni Savelio break the defensive line and when he was tackled, he threw out a high pass that was collected by Neil Frazer who went on to score in the corner. Manihera kicked a beautiful conversion from the touchline to put Town back into the lead.

Okesene broke through the defence on 32 minutes and he passed to the supporting Manihera. The stand-off drew in the defence and passed to Lewthwaite who ran 40 metres to score his first try of the day. Manihera added the conversion to put Town further in front.

Two more Town tries before the break would see Town well in front. Jonathan Heaney scored the first of these, Lynton Stott made the break and his pass to Heaney gave the winger all the space he needed to run in to score easily. Jamie Beaumont added the other after a fine pass from Tane Manihera released the second rower who burst through from 40 metres and rounded the fullback before scoring under the posts.Manihera added both conversion attempt to make the half time score 10 - 32 to Town.

The second half saw the visitors totally dominate. They further increased their lead after 42 minutes.Manihera again was the provider, making a break and passing out from the tackle to Lewthwaite who beat the fullback for speed and ran in to score out wide. Manihera missed the conversion.

An Owen Williamson interception on 46 minutes brought Town on the attack again. The ball was swung along the line to Hitro Okesene who passed out of the tackle to Kevin Hetherington who then raced in to score. Manihera was again successful with the kick to extend the Town lead to 10 - 42.

Hitro Okesene was to be the provider again for the next score. Tane Manihera launched a high bomb and when the fullback Matt Mullholland spilled the ball, Hitro Okesene pounced onto it, passed to Graeme Lewthwaite who went in to complete his hat-trick of tries. Tane Manihera missed the conversion.

The combination of Hitro Okesene and Graeme Lewthwaite combined again on 60 minutes when Okesene broke from deep inside his own half and released Lewthwaite to advance 60 metres to score, repelling the fullback. Tane Manihera was again successful with the conversion to push the Town lead to 10 - 52.

Workington now well and truly in control and on 61 minutes Lee Allen made a great break and passed to the supporting Neil Frazer who was tackled short of the line. Tane Manihera swung the ball wide to Jonathan Heaney now able to go in way out wide for his second try of the day. The conversion was missed from the touchline.

Fata Sini thought he had scored on 77 minutes after good work by Lee Allen and Lynton Stott supplying the substitute with the score under the posts though the referee appeared to give the try he signalled that it had been a forward pass and gave a scrum to York after consulting a linesman.

The final score of the day went to Town. York had the ball and knocked-on deep inside their own half, Lewthwaite collected it and cut through the defence for his fifth try of the day. Kevin Hetherington missed with the conversion leaving the score 10 - 60 to Town.

Teams
Town: Lynton Stott, Jonathan Heaney, Neil Frazer, Kevin Hetherington, Graeme Lewthwaite, Tane Manihera, Lee Allen, Matthew Tunstall, Owen Williamson, Hitro Okesene, Jamie Beaumont, Matt Sturm, Anthony Samuel.
Subs: Fata Sini, Lokeni Savelio, Leigh Smith, Stuart Hoyles

York: Matt Mullholland, Simon Wray, Shaun Austerfield, Craig Moore, Aaron Campbell, Rob Roberts, Danny Waite, Neil Harmon, Alan Pallister, Mick Hagan, Mick Ramsden, Darren Crake, Lee Bardauskas.
Subs: Gareth Oulton, Paul Couch, Luke Billyeald, Nathan Pincher

Attendance: 395

Referee: Steve Addy