Hornets got back to winning ways in an 87 point thriller in which both team's defences clearly had the afternoon off.

Prior to the game, a win of any sort was the order of the day for Darren Shaw's charges. But this roller coaster 80 mins put coach and fans alike through the emotional mangle before Hornets finally came out on top.

Hornets were first to hit the straps with 12 points in as many minutes: First Chris Campbell racing in courtesy of a fumbled ball, followed by Kyle Neal buldozing his way over defenders. Carl Sneyd improving both.

On 13 minutes, Workington had their lucky break, with Wayne Corcoran dispatched to the sin-bin for an innocuous tangle in the tackle. Forber made the extra man work with a well taken try.

Sneyd edged Hornets further ahead with a penalty, but tries from Tunstall and ex-Hornet McCully gave the visitors a narrow 14-16 lead.

Then Town had Miller sin-binned for holding back Martin Ainscough after he'd backed up a huge Dave Best Break and, from the resulting possession, Craig Robinson burrowed in to give Hornets an 18-16 half time lead.

The first 15 minutes of the second half blasted by in a blur as Hornets bagged five tries.

Forber began proceedings by hoying Workington's kick-off into the Pearl St end; then Corcoran's penalty only made it as far as Town winger Marshall - whose attempt to prevent the ball going into touch tapped the ball into the onrushing arms of Alex Brown who gleefully jogged the ball home for a fortuitous try.

On the next foray into Town territory, Martin Ainscough weaved and dodged his way through defenders, unleashing a peach of a pass to the supporting Carl Sneyd for a quality try.

Then Ian Sinfield and Dave Cunliffe grabbed carbon copy tries: shrugging off defenders to pile in. Then good hands across the line saw Ale Brown in for his second.

42-16 in no time and Workington wondering where the game went. But then it was Hornets turn for the defence to clock-off; initiated by defending 19 consecutive tackles on their own line.

Quick fire tries from Kmet and Miller had Hornets on the back foot. And when Corcoran took his second walk to the sin-bin for holding back Wilson in a kick and chase he'd clearly lost, Young took advantage and lunged in to reduce Hornets' lead to just 8 points.

To the sound of squeaking sphincters, Dave Best barged his way through for a deserved try on 76 minutes. And when Town's half-back Poisel dinked a last tackle kick straight down the throat of Eric Andrews, the Hornets full-back ran the ball 80 metres untouched to score and deny the visitors the bonus point. With the hooter sounding, Sneyd added the extras and - on balance - Hornets had the win they deserved.

With better completion than in previous weeks - and a star turn from debutant scrum half Paul Rolls - Hornets got the all important confidence boost they need ahead of next week's trip to Gateshead.