Doncaster 46, Workington Town 12

In a frantic finish to the regulation Co-operative Championship One season Workington came perilously close to throwing away their play-off place.

The unthinkable almost became a reality with a 134 points differential nearly turned over through events at Sedgley Park and the Keepmoat Stadium.

Swinton played their part with a 94-0 mauling of Gateshead Thunder and had assistance from the Dons with their comfortable and thoroughly deserved 46-12 victory over Town.

In the end it was as tight as this – if Swinton had kicked a penalty and Town hadn’t scored a converted try three minutes from the end the Lions would have been looking forward to a trip to Blackpool in a fortnight.

Overall, though, justice has been done, for Workington’s improvement this season and gradual progress deserved to give them a shot at the play-offs – even though it was a close-call.

Last week’s defeat against Swinton and yesterday’s dismal follow-up at Doncaster underlined the problems currently testing the Town management.

Joint coach Gary Charlton said after the Lions’ defeat that his players were running on empty and at the Keepmoat it looked as though they had come to a standstill.

For a lively, enthusiastic and skilful Doncaster side belied their lowly League position by out-playing Workington for long periods of their final game.

Doncaster scored eight tries, converting seven of them while Town did not score their second try until the 77th minute.

Because the kick-off had been delayed ten minutes, Swinton finished first and Workington fans had already picked-up the score and the fact that Town’s differential advantage was down to a single point.

So there was great relief when Mike Whitehead plunged over in the corner three minutes from the end and Darren Holt added the conversion to virtually make sure of entry into the play-offs.

Charlton said afterwards: “I’m afraid that kind of performance wasn’t acceptable and we have told the players so. We did think there would have been a response after the Swinton defeat but we were flat from the start and it was our worst performance of the season.”

Doncaster led 28-0 at the break and that was a fair reflection on the way the half had gone with Town offering very little. Some poor tackling, untidy handling and general lack of urgency handed the initiative to the young Dons side.

Town played at a testimonial game tempo which was in contrast to the urgency shown by Doncaster, who looked to be the side intent on booking their play-off place.

It was a special day to celebrate 50 years of rugby league in Doncaster, with entry for 50p and the Dons playing in a replica strip from 1960 – and Town seemed determined not to spoil it for them.

Doncaster had taken the lead on three minutes when ex-Town player Rob Lunt slipped through an inviting gap to force his way over the line. Kyle Kesick added the conversion.

Town were looking extremely fragile down the middle and the defence caved in on ten minutes when Craig Fawcett sliced through to score under the posts. Kesick added the extras.

When Town did manage to get in a good attacking position some careless passing cost them and Doncaster had the more positive intent near the line. Lunt skipped through for his second try by the posts on 20 minutes and this time Aaron Henry put over the conversion.

Desperate defending by Town allowed Doncaster to score their fourth try on 33 minutes as Jack Ely slipped through three tacklers on the line to get the ball down. Henry added the extras.

A minute before the break Town’s defence was breached again. Short of defenders when Doncaster moved the ball wide it was winger Dean Colton who went over for the try – the only one which wasn’t converted.

There were clear indications at half-time that Town were in danger of throwing away their big lead over Swinton as they led 46-0 and Town trailed 28-0. A similar points’ allocation in the second-half would put Town out.

So it was a distinct relief to score first in the second period and show more resolve in the first five minutes than they had produced in the whole of the first-half.

Paddy Coupar was the try scorer ion 46 minutes, running hard at the line and then turning in the tackle before throwing himself over the line. Darren Holt converted.

But the initial surge by the Cumbrians petered out and two quick tries from hard-working prop Ben Jones and scrum-half Paul Hughes, both converted by Henry had Town trailing 40-6.

The news that Swinton had won 94-0 suggested it was going to be close and when Doncaster swept through to score again with Hughes grabbing his second try, Henry adding the conversion, there was only a one point advantage for Town.

If they conceded again they would be out but fortunately they rallied and after going close on a couple of occasions they finally got in through the skipper Whitehead to squeeze into the play-off phase.

STAR MAN: PADDY COUPAR In a poor performance by the team the Scotsman was one of the few to enhance his reputation with a typically determined show in the pack.

TOWN: Lebbon, Backhouse, Beattie, Low, Frazer, Holt, Kaighan, Rhodes, Hewitt, Coward, Whitehead, McKenna, Coupar. Subs (all used) Pedley, Robinson, Johnson, Macdonald.

Referee: Mr G. Dolan

Crowd: 1127

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