Amateurs Knights give Town Cup fright

The National Conference Division One side were only 16-6 behind at half-time and 22-12 down with 16 minutes remaining.

Hooker Chris Woolford scored two identical close-range tries as the Knights competed excellently, despite a 16-4 penalty account against them.

“It was a top effort by our lads and I am proud of them,” said former Halifax forward Seal. “I was a bit disappointed we weren’t ahead at half-time but unfortunately we didn’t take our chances.”

Knights winger Aaron Butterfield was unable to catch a pass with the try line begging before Workington went ahead after 20 minutes with the first of centre Andy Morris’s three tries.

Normanton, making only their second appearance at this stage, replied when Woolford forced his way over but Workington forged ahead with tries from Morris, Carl Forber and Brett Carter. Normanton struck back with Woolford’s second after Patrick Waterton was halted short.

Adrian Mulcahy’s second conversion cut the gap to 10 points before Workington pulled away again. Morris completed his hat-trick, Carter grabbed his second and Brett Phillips scored a last minute try, with Kayle Connor adding his fifth goal.

Normanton Knights: Maskill; Butterfield,Crossland, Lewis, Greaves, Crossland; Mulcahy, Alexander; Waterton, Woolford, Evans, Ratcliffe, Seal, Carroll. Substitutes: Kirk, Kelsey, Hoult, Thompson.

Workington Town: Carter; Connor, Morris, Mossop, Murphy; Forber, C Phillips; Coward, Mattinson, Shackley, McAvoy, Stack, Lever. Substitutes: Olstrom, Lucock, Rowlandson, B Phillips.

Referee: P Brooke (Manchester).