By Martin Morgan

Last updated 12:07, Tuesday, 17 June 2008

Workington Town hit an NL2 play-off place for the first time this season after heeding boss Dave Rotheram’s simple half-time instruction against Blackpool: charge!

Brett Smith runs in a try

The hosts enjoyed a slender 12-8 lead at the interval but hammered the Panthers after the break thanks to a full-on assault from their powerful pack.

The visitors had one forward red-carded and another sin-binned in a one-sided second-half, Town triumphing 50-12.

“I thought we were appalling in the first-half, trying too hard with silly passes and offloads that were never on,” Rotheram revealed. “We simplified the game plan. We said ‘you are a lot bigger and more powerful than they are, just charge at them and things will come off for you.

“ It was pleasing that we stuck to that plan. Once we got a platform for the halves to work off, there was no stopping us. We finished the game with three props and they couldn’t handle our firepower.”

Forwards Chris Young and Brett Smith shared four of Town’s nine tries in the route against one of NL2’s most improved sides.

“We are now in there, playing with a lot of confidence,” Rotheram said. “Jamie Marshall and Bryce Poisle have been added to the squad, and Dexter Miller and Martyn Wilson are waiting to come back in.

“We enjoyed the win, but I have said to the boys that we have to back it up next week.

“We haven’t yet put together two wins in a row, so that would be nice.”

Workington have a great chance to continue their move up the table next week at the expense of struggling visitors Hunslet Hawks.

“We have three tough games after that against Doncaster, Oldham and Rochdale. We started the second half of the season today and now have 10 games left. It’s up to us now.”