Workington Town will host Ince Rose Bridge in the second round of the Challenge Cup on the weekend of February 25.
The Bridge got through a tricky first round tie at neighbours Wigan St Patrick’s with an excellent 30-22 victory after they had trailed 16-12 early in the second half.
Ince are quite a family club it seems for included inn the winning team were a father, son and uncle trio of Kieran Malone, Kyle Malone and Jamie Malone.
The visitors had led 12-10 at half-time in a game that was always tight with St Pat’s going 16-12 ahead early in the second period.
But it was the Bridge who finished the stronger and Town will need to watch out for Peter Valentine who helped himself to a hat-trick of tries. Ben Tootill and Harry Penny scored the other tries for them.
Town and Wath Brow Hornets, who make the long trek to play Brentwood Eels, will be Cumbria’s only representatives in the second round as both Distington and Barrow Island fell at the first hurdle.
Distington scored first against Orrell St. James with a try by Lewis Whitehead after only five minutes but they were their only points of the game with the visitors winning 16-4.
Kieran O’Mara and Jack Gallagher scored tries in a four-minute spell for St. James, both converted by Bradley Kelk for a 12-4 interval lead.
The Cumberland ARL champions were still in contention until O’Mara scored his second try six minutes from time.
Barrow Island made the long trek to Portsmouth to take on the Royal Navy and were beaten 28-16 after being ahead early and level again early in the second-half after a spurt by the Navy. Another points spree in the final quarter saw the home side through.
Sam Jones was the match star for Barrow Island scoring all their points with a hat-trick of tries and two conversions.
His early efforts with two converted tries had given the Islanders a 12-0 lead, while his third try put them level just after half-time. They succumbed, however, to strong, late pressure from the Navy who booked a trip to North Wales Crusaders in the second round.
