The West Cumbrian derby in the National Conference Premier Division proved a tough and enthralling contest.
In the end it was hosts Wath Brow who emerged 26-14 winners but it needed a converted try two minutes from the end to kill off a brave Egremont challenge.
Egremont had to play for 55 minutes with 12 men after Pat Wells was red-carded for a dangerous tackle when they trailed 10-6.
Prop Charlie Tomlinson had set Wath Brow on their way with a try on nine minutes with Cole Walker-Taylor adding the conversion.
A minute later it looked ominous for Egremont when winger Sam Curwen crossed for an unconverted try which stretched the lead to 10-0.
Then visitors needed a score to stay in the game and they got it through centre Matt Bewsher. With Billy Thompson converting it was game on again, but then came the red card for Wells.
Wath Brow scored their third try right on half-time when Sam Curwen went in and at 14-6 the Hornets would have felt confident of pulling clear in the second-half.
But six minutes into the second half Bewsher stormed over for his second try and despite the handicap were still in the contest.
It was getting too close for comfort and Hornets eased those concerns with a try on 53 minutes from Callum Farrer, converted by Walker-Taylor to open up a ten point lead again.
Egremont refused to lie down and came back again on 68 minutes with an unconverted try from Sam Appleby.
It was a pulsating battle to the end and Wath Brow weren’t over the finish line until Clarke Riley went over in the 78th minute and Walker-Taylor’s conversion finally killed off Egremont’s spirited challenge.
