Report: Workington Town 20-22 Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets snapped their seven-game losing run in thrilling fashion, coming from behind to defeat Workington Town 22-20 in Round 24 of the Betfred Championship.

The Hornets' wait of more than two months for victory was certainly worth it, however, after they produced a dogged second-half display to pick up their first win in Cumbria for 15 years. 

And following the promising signs in their narrow defeats to Barrow Raiders and Whitehaven in recent weeks, it was third time lucky against Cumbrian opposition as Gary Thornton's side ended up on the right side of a two-point scoreline. 

The Hornets welcomed back Alex Chippendale, Harvey Braddish and Isaac Coleman for their latest outing at the Fibrus Community Stadium, with Tom Ashton, George Roby and Jordan Andrade the three who dropped out. 

It was Max Flanagan who opened the scoring after seven minutes from the tee, knocking over a penalty to make it 2-0 in favour of the Hornets. 

Son after, they had their first try. Harvey Braddish's surging run to the line was halted just short, but on the next play, Ross Whitmore scampered from dummy-half to go over. 

It remained 6-0 until shortly before half-time, when Workington drew level. On debut, young Jaiden Tallantire produced a grubber through the line for himself and re-gathered before passing left to send Oscar Doran over unopposed.

Eight minutes after the break, the game swung in Workington's favour as they scored twice in as many minutes. 

The first came via Mason Lewthwaite as he charged onto a short pass left from Jake Carter and went over to score. Then minutes later, Jamie Doran's grubber to the corner was gathered by Zarrin Galea, who produced an acrobatic finish in the corner. 

Trailing 14-6, the Hornets responded well. And on 54 minutes, Jamie Dallimore dummied his way over from dummy-half after a lapse in concentration from Workington's goal-line defence.

Soon after as Workington headed into Rochdale territory, Alex Chippendale came up with a timely intercept and raced downfield before being brought to ground. On the next play, Flanagan darted left and beat four defenders to touch down to the side of the posts. 

Eight minutes from time, Dallimore's second gave the Hornets some breathing space. The ball came left, and the experienced half-back dummied his way to the line. 

Workington weren't done yet, as Tallantire finished off a fine move down the left and Jake Carter converted to bring Workington back to within two. 

The hosts gave it their all with time running out and thought they'd snatched the win in the final seconds through Jude Lupton, but play was brought back for a knock-on and Rochdale held on.

Rochdale Hornets: Flanagan, Boyd, Sa'u, Unsworth, Chippendale, Dallimore, Hansen, Ioane, Whitmore, Barratt, Wood, Braddish, Syme. Bench: Dayes, Hatton, Waterworth, Coleman.

Tries: Whitmore, Dallimore (2), Flanagan

Goals: Flanagan, Dallimore (2)

Workington Town: Tallantire, O.Doran, Lawther, Corkill, Galea, Carter, J.Doran, Reid, Phillips, Scholey, Ainley, Lewthwaite, Williams. Bench: Lupton, Rawhiti, Castle, Stephenson. 

Tries: O.Doran, Lewthwaite, Galiea, Tallantire

Goals: Carter (2)

Post-match reaction