Seaton Rangers lost their big National Conference Division Three clash – but it was overshadowed by the club’s success off the field.
The club’s adopted charity, Jack’s Journey, made over £7,000 from the day’s fundraising with the bulk being the proceeds from an auction of the specially-made playing strips.
Chairman Peter Gilmour said: “The result in the big game with Oldham St. Anne’s didn’t go our way but some things are bigger than sport, and this is one.
“Jack is now a hero to us, the epitome of bravery.
“I’d just like to give a huge thank you to all who donated and sponsored the event to make it a huge success.
“There are too many to mention individually but there should be a special shout for Les Smallwood and Mike Heron who have driven this tremendous fundraiser.
“Once again our club and community have pulled together and made something special happen. I think the £7,200 raised was outstanding.”
Jack Gibson, seven, is one of the club’s promising junior players who has had the all-clear after being diagnosed with leukaemia.
Jack’s Journey was the charity set up by his parents Andrew and Sam, which the Rangers adopted this year for special fundraising efforts.
As for the game, Seaton made too many unforced errors and were always second best to a sharp Oldham side who were in charge virtually from the start.
Billy Southward had given Seaton hope at the end of the first-half when he went in for a try, converted by Dominic Smallwood, which sent them into the break trailing 10-6.
But a second Seaton try for Luke Crossman didn’t come to the closing stages of the second half and by then it was all over with the final margin of defeat 28-10.
The other match of the day in Cumbria was in Division One where Kells consolidated second place with a vital 17-4 home win over Wigan St. Patrick’s.
It avenged a 34-6 defeat in Wigan earlier in the season, but at half-time it was still anybody’s game at 4-4.
Mason Lewthwaite had opened the scoring for Kells but the visitors drew level before the break.
There was a dramatic start to the second-half with two tries in seven minutes for Kells which put them in control.
Lewthwaite went in for his second try and was followed over by Ross Gainford. Both tries were converted by Gainford who later added a drop goal.
It looks as though Kells could well be changing places with neighbours Egremont Rangers in the Premier Division.
Rangers crashed 40-18 at York Acorn and are now running out of games to save themselves.
It was 22-6 at half-time to the hosts with Mitchell Edwards scoring the Egremont try, converted by Sean Mumberson.
Acorn stayed in control in the second-half although Egremont were able to add further tries by Jake McBride and Leon Crellin, both converted by Mumberson.
In Division Two Barrow Island roared back to form, and back into second place, with a 48-16 home win over Crosfields.
It was good enough to put them above the Warrington side on points differential.
They had the game virtually won at half-time, sitting on a 26-0 win.
Adam Jackson finished with eight goals for the Islanders and he also scored two of the eight tries.
The other tries were scored by Brad Marwood, Blain Marwood, Shane Sanderson, Carl McBain, Josh McBain and Adam Ford.
Millom had taken the lead against visitors Shaw Cross Sharks in Division Three but were pegged back by half-time and two late tries saw them slip to an 18-10 home defeat.
Jarty Robinson had scored the opening try, converted by Jack Newbegin and early in the second-half the home side got back in front with an unconverted try by Niall Harris. Two very late tries won it for the Sharks.
Hensingham won 23-15 at home to Batley Boys but this was an artificial result for table purposes as the scheduled visitors have dropped out of the League.
