Rugby: After first loss, Wolfpack look to bounce back at Workington Town

After winning 15 straight games to begin their rugby league life, the Toronto Wolfpack showed last week they could lose with class.

“An absolutely incredible game. The @YorkKnightsRLFC team, organization and fans thoroughly deserve their win,” Toronto tweeted after its 26-16 upset defeat at York last weekend to open the Super 8s playoff round.

The Wolfpack had beaten the visiting Knights 64-22 on July 1.

There is no panic in the wake of the unexpected setback.

With six games to play, Toronto (15-1-0) remains in the driver’s seat for promotion out of the Kingstone Press League 1, the third tier of English rugby league.

“If there’d been a lack of commitment from our boys, then I would have had something to worry about,” said Wolfpack coach Paul Rowley. “But that’s not the case . . . I just thought we didn’t play as intelligently as we should, as smart as we should.”

The Wolfpack, who have outscored their opposition 932-183 this season, look to resume normal service Sunday at Workington Town (8-7-1). Toronto won 58-12 at Workington when the teams met June 18.

The fully professional Wolfpack, forced to enter the league in the third tier, had their way against semi-pro opposition during the regular season. But the stakes are raised in the Super 8s, which feature the top eight teams in the division.

Clubs carry their points forward in the Super 8s with the team atop the table winning promotion to the second-tier Championship. The secondthrough fifth-ranked teams will play off to see who joins them.

“Like I said before, these 8s are a different animal,” said Rowley. “We’re going to have to be good. Every one’s a Cup final.”