Wath Brow Hornets slipped to fifth in the National Conference Premier Division after losing 18-10 at Hunslet Club Parkside.
But the West Cumbrians, who had led 10-0 at the break, felt they were on the wrong end of some poor refereeing decisions.
They had defended superbly at times in the first half when Parkside enjoyed some strong pressure and to keep the hosts out was a fine effort.
Two tries in the space of three minutes on 31 and 33 from Sam Curwen and man of the match Ellison Holgate, gave the Brow a great lift going into the break. Cole Walker-Taylor converted one.
But it might have been even better for the visitors as Parkside had Liam Thompson sent to the bin six minutes before the interval after a shoulder charge.
They couldn’t take advantage of their man advantage and in the second half the hosts began to build up a persistent head of steam.
It took them until the 58th minute to open their account when Luke O‘Malley charged over and he was soon followed by Elliott Morgan. Two conversions from Andy Hullock gave them a narrow 12-10 lead.
The Hornets just couldn’t respond and six minutes from the end Casey Canterbury scored the clinching try, which Hullock converted.
At the other end of the table, Egremont Rangers are in a relegation battle after losing for the seventh time in nine matches.
They went down 40-28 at home to second-in-the-table Lock Lane and now have bottom side York Acorn breathing down their necks after they collected their first win of the season.
Lock Lane have just signed Zak Braham and the experienced 30-year-old prop forward, who has recently been playing for Doncaster, made a strong impression on his debut.
But it was Egremont who struck the first blow when Brad Long went in for the opening try and Bill Thompson kicked the goal.
By half-time, however, the Castleford side had established a 14-6 interval lead with tries from Oliver Bloomer, Dan Sowerby and Tommy Newbould, one converted by Mason Hare.
It looked all over for the Mont when Lock Lane ran riot in the second half and extended their lead to 34-6 with further tries by Kyle Cranswick (2), Lewis Price and Newbould with two Hare conversions.
Egremont responded superbly in the final quarter and got it back to 28-34 with tries from Michael Ellwood, Matty Bewsher, Toby Corrie and Dawson Webster, and three conversions by Thompson.
The momentum seemed to be with the hosts and it was against the run of play when the Lane broke to score the match-clinching try through Sowerby, and this time Cranswick converted.
Kells were expecting a tough test in Division One when they made the long trek to play Hull Dockers and in a tight game went under 19-12.
That victory allowed the Humbersiders to leap-frog Kells at the top of the table although the Cumbrians have a game in hand.
It had started well enough for Kells with the first try of the game for Mason Lewthwaite, which was converted by Grant Gainford.
By half-time, however, the Dockers had moved in front 10-6 with tries from Dan Suddaby and Tim Heil, plus a conversion by Suddaby.
Six minutes into the second half the Dockers increased their lead with a try by Louis Sheriff, converted by Suddaby.
A subsequent penalty and field goal from Suddaby gave Kells too much to do, and despite a second try from Lewthwaite nine minutes from the end, converted by Gainford, they couldn’t get nearer.
Barrow Island
Barrow Island are second in Division Two after a 31-12 win at Dewsbury Celtic – but they had to overcome a miserable start.
After 25 minutes they were 12-4 down and going nowhere until grabbing a second try and going in at the break only two points adrift.
The second half was a lot better as they scored 21 unanswered points to register their seventh win in nine games.
They are level on points with leaders Crosfields but from a game more. Crosfields were left twiddling their thumbs on Saturday when scheduled opponents, bottom side Beverley cried off as they couldn’t raise sufficient players.
The Island tries came from Cam Corrie (2), Jake Stockdale, Ryan Clegg, Aidan Wright and Nath Sneesby. Adam Jackson landed a field goal and two conversions, with Brad Dutton also adding a conversion.
Millom vs Seaton
The Cumbrian derby in Division Three was a thriller with Millom eventually edging out Seaton 30-28.
It was a blow to Seaton’s promotion hopes as they had been 16-6 ahead at half-time and had increased that with a converted try early in the second half.
They had even gone ten points clear at 28-18 and with Millom down to 12 following a red card for Jonty Peters looked strong favourites to win it.
But the Woollybacks made light of their handicap and two converted tries won them the game.
When they led 22-6 Seaton had Lewis Brown sin-binned and it was during his absence that Millom staged their first fightback to within four points.
Gary Taylor (2), Craig Foster, Grant Reid and Luke Crossman scored the Seaton tries with four goals from Dom Smallwood.
For Millom, there were tries for Jardy Robinson, Jack Newbegin, Rio McQiston, Kian McPherson and Adam Kelly. Newbegin’s fifth goal won the game.
Hensingham
East Leeds seem to be in a different league to the vast majority of the teams in Division Three and the 100% leaders made it a painful trip home for Hensingham.
They hammered the Cumbrians 96-0, scoring 18 tries – including three different hat-tricks – and 12 conversions.
