Workington Town 13 London Broncos 16: Workington Town were beaten but not bowed as they stepped up a gear to take on the in-form London Broncos but narrowly lost out 16-13.

Town put in their best performance of the season and nearly snatched a win over the high flying Broncos in the final minute.

For the majority of the game, Workington looked dangerous on the attack, with the returning Jarrod Sammut giving some much needed direction to the play. But they seemed to lack the killer instinct near the line, which ended up costing them dearly at the final whistle.

There were some good displays across the park with Jack Murphy proving a very safe pair of hands at full-back and Brett Phillips and Ryan Verlinden impressing in the pack.

This was definitely a case of two points lost but the Town fans can come away with hope for the remainder of the season after a much-improved display.

Town were looking good in the early stages with Jack Murphy pushing them forward as he collected the ball from the kick near his own line and burst through a couple of would-be tacklers before being brought down.

Sammut put in a searching kick on the last tackle but it was dealt with by the London defence and they shot up to the opposite end of the field.

Town gave away a couple of penalties and London took full advantage.

As Workington went to wrap up a strong-running Nick Slyney he managed to pop out a basketball style pass to hooker James Cunningham and he burst over from short range.

Scott Leatherbarrow converted and the visitors were leading 6-0.

Cunningham had a hand in London’s next break as he began to cause some problems for the Town defence but luckily they knocked on.

Sammut picked up a loose ball and released Brett Phillips and minutes later Sammut put in a neat kick to force London to drop out.

And it was the returning playmaker that got Town back into the game after 25 minutes. He picked up a loose ball and darted over the line, with Carl Forber adding the extras.

Brett Carter was then called on to clear the Town line as London fought back and Jack Murphy scooped up a dangerous looking kick through on the last to keep his side in the game.

London should have took the lead with two minutes of the half remaining but sub Andy Ackers knocked on over the line.

And Town came right back with a great passing move through the hands of Sammut, Brett Phillips and Jason Mossop but winger Sam Forrester over-ran the final pass and it came to nothing and the two sides went in at the break level.

Into the second half and Ackers again found himself in a good position but he was held up just short of the line.

Then Iliess Macani could not keep hold of the pass from Rhys Williams as London tried to get the upper hand.

But Town were not sitting back this week and they were throwing the ball about well.

Karl Olstrom found himself with the ball in hand on the last and tried to kick through but it bounced off a London player right into the arms of Sammut.

Not one to miss an opportunity he danced through the defence from 30-metres out, the London defence having no answer to his side-steps as he crossed under the posts, leaving Forber a simple conversion and Town took the lead at 12-6.

Phillips could have extended the lead moments later but he just couldn’t hang on to the ball from Sammut on the try line and London took possession.

And then, within a four minute spell, the Broncos struck what was to be their killer blows.

Town gave away a penalty just over the half way line and London whipped the ball out to the left. The Town defence held up the first charge but were left wanting when Rhys Williams barged over from dummy half.

The resulting conversion went wide and Town still had the upper hand but London were suddenly on the up.

Brett Carter had to clear his try line for a drop-out and minutes later London were over again, Matt Garside strolling through some poor tackling and this time Leatherbarrow added the extras.

Town responded well and got themselves in a good position, courtesy of two scrums near their opponents’ line.

But instead of giving it hands, Sammut chose to slot over a drop-goal, much to the bafflement of his coach and team-mates.

And with just six minutes left on the clock, Town were still three points adrift of the Broncos.

Graeme Mattinson gave the crowd hope as he broke away inside his own half but the final high ball from Sammut was scooped up by Alex Walker.

In the dying seconds it was Town again who had the crowd on their feet as they threw everything at the London defence.

Jason Mossop gave it one last surge but the centre was held up over the line much to the relief of the Broncos and seconds later the hooter sounded.

It was a defeat but one that held a lot of promise for the remainder of the season.

Workington Town: Murphy, Forrester, Hulme, Mossop, Carter, Forber, Sammut, Coward, Mattinson, Gordon, B Phillips, Stack, McAvoy. Subs: Scholey, Olstrom, Whiteley, Verlinden. 

Tries: Sammut 25, 52; Goals: Forber 2/2; Drop-goal: Sammut. 

London: Walker, Williams, Kear, Hellewell, Macani, Barthau, Leatherbarrow, Slyney, Cunningham, Ioane, Harrison, Garside, Bussey. Subs: Ackers, Davis, Offerdahl, Battye. 

Tries: Cunningham 9, Williams 65, Garside 69; Goals: Leatherbarrow 2/3. 

Referee: Chris Campbell. 

Attendance: 632.