Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 10 April 2008

WORKINGTON Zebras could still finished third in the North Lancs Cumbria League.

Last weekend rivals Wigton slipped up when they went down 15-14 at Upper Eden.

Workington have two games left - they host struggling Didsbury Toc H tomorrow while the other team pushing for third, Kirkby Lonsdale, visit second in the table Rossendale. Wigton travel to De La Salle.

Workington Steelers, Zebra’s second team, snatched an exciting 24-23 win at Aspatria Eagles in a much reduced Cumbria League programme.

The Eagles had played particularly well in the opening 15 minutes to open up a 13-0 lead but Workington came back very strongly to lead 13-18 at the break.

It was an entertaining contest throughout and even at the death there could have been a twist in the tail but Lee Holliday missed a difficult penalty attempt for Aspatria.

Holliday had landed two penalties and converted a try by Nicholas Edgar as the Eagles got off to a flying start.

But Workington came back strongly to take the initiative. Jonathan Howarth kicked two penalties and converted a try by number eight Paul Miller before Bede O’Connor crossed for a second unconverted try.

Howarth landed two more penalties in the second half but Aspatria got right back into contention with unconverted tries from Neil Paisley and Scott Lister.

It was a disappointing result for Aspatria who have been chalking up some decent results recently but it was a big win for the Steelers - only their third of the season but good enough to lift them off the foot of the table.

Netherhall travelled to Windermere for their Cumbria Plate tie and outclassed the home team to go through 62-0.

The Maryport side was best in every area and after 10 minutes took the lead when Tony Nicholson went down the blind side to feed Andrew Southwell who scored and Paul Atkinson added the conversion.

Five minutes later Nicholson again made space and this time fed Matt De-Bose on the wing who went in for his third try in two games. Again Atkinson converted.

Further first half tries for Aspatria were added by Darren Irwin and Southwell, both converted by Atkinson.

The second half went the same as the first. Netherhall added five more tries, one from Ben Brinicombe and four from Atkinson who also converted all five.

Creighton and Cockermouth also played their long overdue tie and it was Creighton who went through 29-0.

It was Cockermouth who made a superb start to the match, dominating possession and territory for the opening 10 minutes, causing problems with their good mauling technique. But they couldn't convert pressure into points.

In the third Plate game played on Saturday Whitehaven beat neighbours Gosforth Greengarth 37-5.

Tomorrow Aspatria visit Hartlepool Rovers in North Two East while in the Cumbria League the games include: Keswick v Cockermouth, Moresby v Aspatria Eagles, Workington Steelers v Netherhall, Egremont v Wigton Wanderers.

n See back page story on Aspatria reaching the Story Cumbria Cup final where they’ll take on North One team, Kendal.