Rugby League: Workington 34 - 28 Rochdale Hornets

A last second try from Carl Forber saw Workington Town claim a 34-28 win at Derwent Park in the Betfred League 1 in what was captain Sean Penkywicz’s 400th career game.

Hornets led for the majority of the game, with tries from Lewis Sheridan, Luke Fowden, Shaun Ainscough, Ben Moores and Fuifui Moimoi, but it was a last second defeat for Matt Calland's side.

An intercept try from Workington’s number seven saw him seal the victory on the full-time hooter.

Ben Calland returned to the starting line-up named in the centres, while Jimmy Connaughton was named on the bench following a head knock at Hunslet. Cole Oakley made his debut on loan from Newcastle Thunder, while Sam Freeman returned from injury and was named on the wing.

It was a strong start from Hornets, and it was Sheridan who broke the deadlock on 12 minutes. The fullback took on the line and a nice dummy presented a huge gap for the former Mayfield amateur to go through and score the first of the afternoon. Josh Jordan-Roberts converted for a 0-6 score.

Workington hit back just five minutes later, with hooker Dec O’Donnell the first to get on the end of a short-side grubber kick from his winger Alex Young for a 6-6 score.

On 31 minutes, Jordan-Roberts was awarded a penalty for a tip in the tackle in which he converted to restore Rochdale’s lead to 6-8.

Powerful forward Fowden then extended the lead further just before half-time as he crashed over under the sticks, converted this time by Jordan Syme for a 6-14 score at the break.

Four minutes into the second half, Fowden managed to find an offload close to the opposition’s line and quick hands eventually found Ainscough to cross untouched in the corner for an 6-18 score.

Workington hit back just two minutes later as Jamie Doran found a gap to go through, before Jacob Moore forced his way over to level the scores on 52 minutes.

Starting the afternoon at nine, Moores went from dummy-half to give Hornets their third lead of the afternoon with a 18-22 score on 57 minutes.

Former Leigh winger Brad Holroyd, who appeared for Hornets on loan in 2020, did well to finish in the corner to square the score at 22-22 seven minutes later.

Conor Fitzsimmons then gave the hosts their first lead of the afternoon on 71 minutes before Moimoi crashed his way over with just minutes left for a 28-28 score.

Both Doran and Danny Yates attempted drop-goals with time ticking, with neither managing to find the target, and it was heartbreak on the hooter as Forber managed to intercept a last second play from Hornets to claim victory for the hosts.

Hornets: L.Sheridan, Ainscough, Calland, Nixon, Freeman, Yates, Penkywicz, Connaughton, Moores, Walton, Syme, Oakley, Jordan-Roberts.
Substitutes: Forster, Ogden, Moimoi, Fowden.

Tries: Sheridan (12’), Fowden (37’), Ainscough (44’), Moores (57’), Moimoi (73’)
Goals: Jordan-Roberts 2/3, Syme 1/2
Penalty goals: Jordan-Robers 1/1