Cumberland ARL’s season has been extended until October 17 in an effort to complete the fixtures.
So far over 30 games have been postponed, a good number because of COVID-19 and the track and trace pingdemic, but also a shortage of referees has added to the problem.
Secretary of the Holmen Iggesund-sponsored competition, Lorraine Degraffe, is hopeful of completing the season in time, although admits it could be a close call.
“It didn’t help that we could only play one game this weekend through one reason and another but having been allowed by the Rugby League to extend until mid-October I hope we can get things finished.
“We have clubs with floodlights and they will be asked to fit in some midweek games to help the backlog,” she said.
The only game played was at Lowca where visitors Cockermouth edged a good contest 28-24 after being behind 18-16 at the break.
It was always a game that could have gone either way, especially as Lowca set-off strongly and capitalised on the Titans defence’s slow reaction to score two early tries.
Cockermouth weren’t helped by a couple of early injuries – a concussion and a broken ankle – and with Lowca ahead at the break faced a battle to get themselves into the contest.
In fact the Titans showed great character in the second half with Jordan Herve working hard again to get his side onto the front foot by putting his body on the line.
This gave Jack Clark and Charles van den Bossche space to cause the Lowca defence problems.
With 15 minutes to go, Cockeermouth captain Regan Tinnion attacked the Lowca try line from 20 metres out, sold the defence a couple of dummies before slipping the ball inside to van den Bossche who went in under the sticks to put Titans in front.
There was a great 70 minute performance from Richard Nicholson in the middle to earn him Cockermouth’s Man of the match award.
Lowca’s tries were scored by Emerson Allen (2), Jamie Haile (2) and Mitchell Todd. Keith Campbell kicked two conversions. Lee Weightman was their man of the match.
The Cockermouth try scorers were Jack Clark (2), Charles Van den Bosch (2) and Regan Tinnion with Jack Clark landing four goals.
