West Cumbria League champions Hensingham had to work hard to make progress in the Under-16s National Cup.
In their first game of the new rugby league season they travelled to Wigan St Patrick’s and just edged their hosts 22-20.
The sides were well matched and St Pat’s gave Hensingham the stiffest test they have had for some time.
The west Cumbrians were missing a couple of key players, and had some new faces moving up from the Under-14’s but after the long journey down to Wigan they started well enough.
Early attacks were dangerous, but after just six minute they went behind following a quick break down the left wing which ended in a home a try in the corner, but crucially as the game turned-out, it wasn’t converted.
Hensingham regained their composure and began to play better rugby, and just five minutes later a powerful run from Miller Dalton saw St Pat’s rooted to their try line. But the ever-opportunistic Fletcher Holgate spotted a gap and dived in to score right under the sticks, leaving an easy conversion for Luca Hiddleston.
Hensingham began to dominate and ten minutes later Nate Frankland was over to score on the left wing supported by James Mattinson and Dalton, but this time Hiddleston couldn’t convert.
The visitors continued to hold the upper hand with Tom McKinney and Dalton making good yards through the centre. It was Dalton who got the next try for the visitors, evading the clutches of defenders and charging right through to dive in under the sticks, with a Hiddleston conversion adding the extras.
But this game was far from over and when the home side grabbed the initiative they pulled back a converted try to trail 16-10 at the break.
Immediately after the break McKinney capitalised on a steal from Dalton, which was distributed by Holgate, and he crashed over for the try which was converted by Hiddleston.
Even with a twelve-point lead, however, Hensingham were never allowed to settle or look comfortable and after just three minutes St. Pat’s took advantage of a disorganised defence and touched down for a converted try.
It was game on again, and the Wigan side was-well drilled, with some pacey and skilful players who knew how to cause real problems.
The game was end to end but Hensingham suffered a set-back when Holgate took a bad knock and went off with an injured shoulder. He was replaced by Dylan Cromwell who was right into the thick of it from the start.
As the game ebbed and flowed, Wigan’s very impressive second row forward spotted a gap and sprinted down the left wing in a mazy run towards the Hensingham line where he touched down to loud cheers from the sizeable home crowd. However, a missed conversion left the scores at 20-22 and it was still anyone’s game.
The clocked ticked down and only an astonishing sprint and flying tackle form Keelan McKeown to floor the runway home scrum-half prevented a try.
With five minutes left on the clock the game swung in Hensingham’s favour and Hiddleston was held up on the line by four Wigan players.
As the anxious travelling support checked their watches, Hensingham massed on the Wigan line and a twisting McKinney was held up and denied a further try as the whistle blew.
It had been a hard-fought win for Hensingham to progress to the second round where they will be at home to Hull Wyke ARLFC on February 13.
Lowca ARLFC U16s also progressed in the Cup, wining against Illingsworth ARLFC by an impressive 26-10 margin.
They have been rewarded with another home tie in round two, against West Bank or Leigh Miners, again on February 13 in a competition where every game is a tough one.
