Workington Town 50 Egremont Rangers 10: The result was never really going to be in doubt. But the way in which Workington Town saw off their Cumbrian top-flight amateur opposition was always going to be put under the microscope since this was only their second pre-season warm-up game.

Town’s performance was good in parts, nine tries helping make that point. But Egremont too had their moments and were worth at least double their two-try tally.

Three Town tries in the first eight minutes made it look like it was going to be a procession but Rangers, once in their stride, made sure the hosts were going to have to work for every point.

Kris Coward crossed under the posts in the second minute after a slick pass from Callum Phillips, before good work down the right from Brett Carter and an inside pass to Callum Phillips saw a second try two minutes later. And Carter completed the early battering with an eighth-minute effort, Carl Forber goaling all three tries for an 18-0 lead.

However, credit to Egremont. They came back at Town and Leon Crellin was stopped just short of the line by Forber.

And in the 11th minute they narrowed the gap. A cross-field kick on the last tackle by Lewis Beckwith forced a Town knock-on and, from the scrum, Rangers spun the ball right for Crellin to go in at the corner. Matt Bewsher kicked the conversion and it was 18-6.

Kieron Glen had to be alert to fall on a loose ball as Town looked for their fourth try, before Glen and Tony Hetherington made good breaks to take Rangers straight up to the other end. But the final grubber was too long and another chance was wasted.

This was the beginning of a 10-minute period where Egremont enjoyed a large majority of territorial advantage. But the Town defence proved too strong with Dan Rooney, Andy Morris and Marc Shackley, to name a few, putting in big hits.

But Rangers fell for the old one-two just before the interval. Forber cleared his lines with a superb 40/20 to put Town on the attack. And, straight from the scrum, Kayle Connor went over, Forber converting, to give Town a 24-6 lead.

And the home side extended their lead on the hooter when Penrith RUFC’s Ben Littleton went in at the corner on his debut for 28-6.

Within three minutes of the start of the second-half, Peter Lupton and Connor had crossed, Forber, improving one, to see Town into a 38-6 lead. And, with Karl Olstrum, Jarrad Stack and Andy Morris impressing with ground-making drives up the middle, Callum Rowlandson crashed over from short range in the 51st minute. Forber added the two-pointer and it was 44-6.

Rather than let their heads drop, back came Egremont. A move that involved Hetherington, Beckwith, Glen and Brad Hales resulted in the amateurs being held up just short.

But, down the other end, the second Penrith RUFC player on debut, Sandy Kerridge, crossed the whitewash, Forber kicking the conversion, and Town were 50-6 ahead.

In the 61st minute, Egremont got just reward when Rhys Davies hacked through from half-way, Crellin getting the touch in the chase for his, and Rangers’ second try of the game.

The last quarter saw both sides create chances but neither make them count. Egremont’s fitness stood up to the test against their professional opponents and only a dropped ball two yards out in the closing stages prevented Crellin scoring.