BEN LANE’S late try has kept North Wales Crusaders well in the hunt to qualify for the end-of-season League One play-offs.

Lane crossed the whitewash six minutes from time as Carl Forster’s side stunned former Cru coach Anthony Murray’s Workington Town 28-24.

Crusaders, with four matches now left, trailed fifth-placed Workington by four points ahead of kick-off.

Meanwhile, Cru were two points adrift of Midlands Hurricanes, sitting in sixth spot.

Midlands were beaten 32-0 at leaders Oldham, so the top-six race now looks set to go down to the wire.

Workington enjoyed the better start and they got themselves in front as early as the fifth minute.

Jack Stephenson grabbed a converted score for the Cumbrians.

Workington then extended their advantage after 16 minutes. JJ Key crossing the whitewash and this try was converted once more.

Crusaders battled their way back and they were on the scoreboard three minutes later.

The hosts failed to deal with the restart and direct play from the resulting scrum allowed Ben Evans to crash over. Dan Coates was successful with his conversion attempt.

However, Workington’s 12-point cushion was re-established within three minutes courtesy of Jake Bradley’s try, which was followed by a third successful conversion.

Attacks continued to be on top and Workington went further ahead in the 27th minute with Billy Southward’s unconverted score.

Cru needed a response and they got it seven minutes prior to the interval through Pat Ah Van and it was converted once again.

That made it 22-12 and both sides were reduced to 12 men, with a Workington player and Crusaders’ Jake Burns being sent off prior to the interval.

Crusaders were right back in the contest when captain Chris Barratt, one of the team’s standout performers this season, scored under the posts after a long spell of possession. The successful conversion dragged Crusaders back to within four points of their hosts.

Cru took the lead for the first time when Barratt claimed his second score, which was converted, only for a Workington penalty to then make it 24-24. Then came Lane’s try to seal a stunning Cru success.

Keighley Cougars thrashed Newcastle Thunder 72-12 while Rochdale Hornets beat Cornwall 46-32.