Ellenborough Rangers made a near-perfect introduction to the National Conference with a 60-6 opening day win at Seaton Rangers in the Third Division.
It was an impressive start by Paul Gorge’s men who successfully applied to join the competition, a year after Seaton had enjoyed a pleasing first season in there.
But Seaton might find it tougher this time round after last year’s great effort in making the play-offs. They have lost four players to the pro ranks and another key member of the side has gone back to his former club.
Once they had gone in front with a try from Zak Olstrum on nine minutes there was little doubt that Elbra would go on to win the game, but the margin of victory was particularly telling.
They had set-up a 30-0 lead at the break, added another 30 in the second period and only conceded a converted try 13 minutes from the end.
Olstrum went on to score four tries while Owen Hoyles picked up man of the match for his impeccable kicking record of 10 conversions, along with two tries.
The other Ellenborough tries came from Jordan Ostle (2), Andrew Ostle and Matty Bell with Jordan Pritt scoring Seaton’s consolation try, converted by Jon Carl Bryan.
In the top flight Premier Division Kells made a winning return following their promotion when they travelled to Leigh Miners Rangers and came home with a 25-12 victory.
Peter Smith’s men made a flying start with two tries in the first 10 minutes from Dominic Wear and Sam Murtagh, both converted by Ross Gainford.
By the 30-minute mark Leigh Miners were level as both Andy Philbin and Rob Drake crossed, with Sam Pilkington converting both.
But Kells went in at half-time leading 18-12 after Scott Lofthouse got in for a try and Gainford added a penalty.
Soon after the re-start man of the match Wear slipped through for his second try, which was converted by Gainford. Then 12 minutes from time, just in caser, Gainford added the extra cushion of a drop goals.
Wath Brow Hornets prepared for their Challenge Cup trip to Batley Bulldogs on Sunday with an opening 24-0 home win over York Acorn.
Hornets expect to be challenging at the top end of the Premier Division again this season and couldn’t have asked for a better start as Jake Moore went ion for the opening try after only 48 seconds.
Sam Curwen converted but the home side had to wait until the 33rd minute to extend their lead when Curwen put over a penalty.
After 54 minutes Cole Walker Taylor added the Hornets’ second try, and while York’s Matthew Woods was cooling off in the sin bin for a late challenge, Hornets added a third try from Curwen which he improved.
Ten minutes from the end Morgan McCourt scored the final Wath Brow try to complete a smooth performance as they now start to focus on the Bulldogs.
Egremont Rangers, relegated from the Premier Division, hoped to start with a win at Pilkington who went down with them. But the home side won a tight contest 30-22.
The Cumbrians could hardly have wished for a better start as tries from Pat Wells and Keiran Glenn, one converted by Kristian Tyson, put them 10-0 up inside 12 minutes.
The home side came back with two converted tries to lead 12-10 but Egremont enjoyed the half-time advantage with a try from Leon Crellin, converted by Tyson.
It was the second-half which proved to be Egremont’s undoing as three quick tries put Pilkington clear and all the Rangers could manage in the closing stages was a try from Matt Bewsher, converted by Tyson.
Barrow Island travelled to Woolston Rovers in Division Two and were beaten 24-16 in what was a close contest throughout.
Sam Jones scored a first-half try for the Islanders, converted by Adam Jackson as they trailed 10-6 at the break.
It became 16-12 in the third quarter of the game with Finley Dutton-Rosconnie scoring the Barrow side’s try, converted by Jackson.
They had fallen 24-12 behind so that Aidan Wright’s last minute try was purely a statistical addition to the result.
