WORKINGTON TOWN...40 LIONS...22: INJURY ravaged Lions put up a good fight against a fast improving Town side in the Workington sunshine, but couldn't gain victory, despite a good comeback.

The Lions had the first attack in the fourth minute, but Wayne English's kick over the line was too strong for Tyrell.

Town hit back three minutes later when Lusi Sione made a great break down the left wing, but a great tackle by Tyrell stopped his progress.

However, the Town pressure continued and Manihera put a kick over the Lions' line to which Kris Smith had an air shot with the boot and Sione was on hand to pounce for the try.

Manihera missed the conversion.

It got worse for the Lions when Shaun Boylan sent out a great pass for Neil Frazer to race in by the posts, and Manihera converted.

Town's third try came in the 13th minute when Hugh Thorpe lost control of a bomb kick and Lewthwaite put the ball out to Martyn Wilson who raced in unopposed at the corner, again Manihera missed the kick.

Sione then added his second try when he raced 60 metres through the Lions' defence to score by the right-hand post with Manihera adding the goal points.

The Lions got on the scoreboard in the 27th minute when Rob Russell scored under the posts from Mick Coates' kick through. Warren Ayres added the conversion.

Six minutes later they were in again when Lee Gardner sent out a great pass and Chris Maye raced half the length of the field to score, but Ayres' conversion attempt shaved the post and missed.

Lions lost the services of Paul Ashton at half-time and he was replaced by Safraz Patel, who proceeded to set up the first try of the half for Hugh Thorpe, who got over in the corner and Ayres converted from the touchline.

English went very close in the 50th minute as he beat at least six town players for the line then lost the ball as he went over.

Sione completed his hat-trick a minute later when he raced in at the corner following Manihera's 40-20 down field and Manihera added the conversion points.

Town added a second try a couple of minutes later when Thorpe let Boylan's kick bounce back and Graeme Lewthwaite scored in the corner with Manihera adding the goal points again.

Town were then awarded a penalty for ripping out in the 58th minute, but Manihera put the kick wide.

But he had another shot at goal a minute later for a holding down offence and was on target.

Kris Smith scored the Lions' fourth try in the 63rd minute after good play by English and Ayres, but Ayres could not add the goal points.

The Lions were awarded a penalty for ball-stealing ten minutes from time and Ayres kicked the goal from in front of the posts.

The Lions then put pressure on the Town line but all went wrong when Hodson knocked-on near the line.

The Lions' last attack came in the final minute but Russell knocked-on with the line begging.

Town scored the final try of the match in the dying seconds when Frazer went in at the corner and Manihera added the goal from the touchline.

LIONS: English, Thorpe, Russel, Maye, Tyrell, Coates, Ashton, Cushion, Cannon, Gardner, Smith, Sinfield, Hodson. Subs: (all used): Ayres, Patel, Wallace, Brett