Workington 24 Furness 27

FURNESS signed off 2017 in style with a terrific victory over enthusiastic Workington Zebras at the Ellis Ground.

The array of festive excuses offered up by players who would not travel up the coast for the Cumbria League match-up forced the Blues to make numerous changes, but those who appeared had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

Furness started the brighter of the two sides, and it was evident they did not possess a designated goal-kicker as penalty chances were squandered.

Workington were a little predictable with their tactics, as the visitors wrapped up their big runners, with Corne Els and Will and Joe Mallinson putting in some good defensive work.

Prop Dan Scott burst through the home defence to show them how it should be done, and from the resulting ruck Furness moved the ball blind to find full-back Alex Brown joining the line and opening the scoring.

Rhys Studt went close following the re-start, as Furness drove back into the Workington ranks.

The Blues scrum improved as the match went on, and Els robbed the ball to set up try number two, with Dillan Taputu driving over the line.

After the break, Studt took the match to the home five-metre line, setting up a second try for Taputu, who took his opportunity in style.

Complacency was a greater threat than Workington, and the home side hit back with a converted try for 15-7.

The hard-working Craig McKinnon and Steve Neale helped Furness back into the Workington half, and Joe Mallinson thought he had crossed the line after a great drive, but it was left to his brother, Will, to pick a great line for the Blues’ fourth try.

At 20-7, and with 15 minutes remaining, that should have been game, set and match, however Workington hit back with a converted try before centre Rhys Humphries backed up a great move involving Brown, Studt and Jordan Ashton.

With 22 metres to go, Humphries stepped on the gas, stepping outside and then inside to bamboozle the Workington defence and power over the line for the try of the game.

Ashton converted and Furness stretched their lead to 27-12.

Workington replied with a try that looked like a consolation, however Brown incurred the wrath of the excellent referee, Martin Denvir, who showed the only yellow card of the game.

With only five minutes left, Workington had a chance of an unlikely victory and promptly closed the gap to only three points with a converted try.

Furness held their nerve and forced an error to take the final scrum of the game and close out the match.

On an excellent afternoon for the Blues, all 15 players worked their socks off in a thoroughly entertaining game of rugby. Workington deserve credit for not giving up on a lost cause.

On this form and commitment from those who travelled, Furness should look optimistically to 2018, entering it sat second in the Cumbria league, just two points behind Upper Eden.