Millom won the Cumbrian derby against Hensingham in NCL Division Three after a close-run contest.
It finished 34-32 to the visitors, and there had also only been two points in it at half-time when Millom led 18-16.
Hensingham, who had lost their previous five games and are becoming adrift next to bottom of the table, had edged in front 26-24 by the hour mark.
The turning point came when Hensingham’s Logan Holgate was sin-binned for a dangerously high tackle and during his absence Millom scored two tries to open up the gap which proved decisive.
Dan McGarry did get over late for Hensingham and Jack Kellett converted but there wasn’t time to follow-up and snatch what would have been a vital win.
Hensingham had worked their way into their 26-24 lead with tries by player coach Jessie-Joe Parker (2), Steve Smith, Holgate and Kellett. There were two goals from Kellett and one from Noel Branthwaite.
Millom’s tries came from Kian McPherson (2), Niall Harris (2), Hadley Thompson and Ricky Donaghue. Jack Newbegin kicked five goals.
Also in Division Three Seaton Rangers swept to a comprehensive 66-12 home win over Drighlington. The visitors were sliding to their fifth successive defeat and are clearly struggling as they only had 15 players, so fewer options from the bench.
The game was over as a contest by half-time as Seaton had established a 36-0 lead with tries from Jon-Carl Bryan (2), Billy Southward (2), Andy McGlasson, Dom Smallwood and Craig Foster – four of them converted by Smallwood.
Although the visitors scored converted tries at the start and end of the second half, Seaton ruled the roost in between adding further tries through Foster, Bryan (for his hat-trick), Luke Crossman, Grant Reid and Liam Williamson. Smallwood (3) and Foster (2) put over conversions.
It’s been a miserable fortnight for Kells as they slipped to their second successive defeat, going under 19-6 at Oulton who have now moved into third place, only a point behind the Cumbrians.
Kells are now two points behind Hull Dockers and have now played the same number of games as their rivals.
After Oulton had gone in front with a converted try, Kells came back with in-form Mason Lewthwaite crossing and Grant Gainford adding the conversion. Then just before the interval the home side scored a second converted try.
A third converted try after 58 minutes gave Kells more work to do and Oulton sealed it with a field goal soon afterwards.
