Siejka’s missed kick is costly for Featherstone

They lost a nail-biter in west Cumbria against a Workington side battling to stay out of the relegation zome. In the end it hinged on Harry Siejka’s last minute missed conversion attempt.

Town took the lead after 52 seconds. Brett Phillips made the break from inside his own half and Jason Mossop took it on before sending Graeme Mattinson through to score. Carl Forber converted.

Forber’s place kicking proved crucial as he landed three conversions and a penalty while Featherstone, although out-scoring their hosts four tries to two, could only manage one conversion from Siejka.

Town increased their lead after Lewis Tierney darted through a group of Rovers players before feeding the backing-up Forber for a converted try.

Featherstone, who had three tries disallowed, finished the half on top, Andy Kain setting-up James Lockwood before sneaking ahead in the second-half with tries from Will Sharp and Andy Bostock. Siejka converted the latter and Rovers led for the first time.

Town levelled with a Forber penalty and six minutes from the end scored the crucial try. Forber hoisted a high kick where Jarrad Stack rose above Sharp to catch and push into the path of Andy Morris to score. Forber converted. They still had to survive a last-minute scare, but Siejka missed the conversion on Sharp’s try.

Workington Town: Tierney, Johnson, Mossop, Morris, Carter, C. Phillips, Forber, Coward, Mattinson, Rooney, B. Phillips, Stack, Duerden. Substitutes: Connor, Rowlandson, Lucock, K. McAvoy.

Featherstone: Hardman, Crookes, Blackmore, Worthington, Shar, Kain, Siejka, Bostock, Ellis, Trout, Cording, Lockwood, Dale.Substitutes: Bussey, Green, Kent, Mendieka.

Referee: D Merrick (RFL).