After losing out by two points in Staffordshire last week after a high-scoring County Championship clash, Cumbria prevailed by the same margin at Morpeth.
Their second successive away fixture saw them beat Northumberland 21-19 to set-up a deciding home clash with Durham at Aspatria this week-end.
As had happened the week before Cumbria got themselves into a healthy lead only to be overhauled by the home side, Then as last week re-took the lead but this time they managed to hang on in the final minutes to claim the victory.
On a glorious afternoon the game started brightly with both sides looking to play open rugby and put the ball wide whenever they could.
The visitors opened the scoring after five minutes with a well struck penalty by winger Oli Bennett but both sides were struggling to break the other down with the defences being on top.
Cumbria lost a player for ten minutes to a yellow card for a high tackle and with 14 men were stretched for that period but the home side, although they had the upper hand could not get the better of the stubborn visitors’ defence.
It became clear the visitors were going to have much the better of the set scrums, as even when reduced to seven men, they drove the bigger home pack off their own ball.
As the game went into the second quarter Cumbria finally managed to breach the home line. Jamie McNaughton created the space and centre Leo Mercer made a break down the centre of the field.
Oli Rose was on hand to continue the run into the 22 and then the forwards took over. Joe Anderson went close to scoring before the ball came to the backs.
It was whipped to the left and McNaughton, into the line from full back, quickly moved the ball to Joe Beaty and he stepped inside the last defender to score.
The conversion came back off the post and Cumbria led by eight and with neither side being able to take advantage of some good field position before the break.
The visitors extended their lead just after the restart when Archie Rattray made a clean break to take play to the home 22 but the ball was knocked on when the support arrived.
The home side had the put in to the scrum but the Cumbria pack applied the pressure and won a penalty which was neatly knocked over by Bennett.
The game then swung the home side’s way and they were able to spend long periods deep in the Cumbrian half and looked much more dangerous from close range. They battered the line and retained possession well to really turn the screw and scored two very similar tries.
Both were from two yards and both by the six foot six replacement lock who was unstoppable from that distance.
With the first try converted Northumberland now led 12-11 and Cumbria looked to be on the back foot but they stuck to their task and fitness began to tell against the bigger opposition.
They got back into the game and put their noses back in front when McNaughton found space on the blind side down the left wing. With the cover closing in he chipped the ball deftly to the corner and the pace of Beaty saw him win the race to the line to reclaim the lead for his side. Arran Stephens converted the try off the touchline and they led by six.
Shortly after the re-start Cumbria reclaimed possession when a home pass was misplaced and with the visitors in a good attacking position the scrambling home was penalised.
Stephens had a much easier penalty shot which he hit to ease his side two scores ahead with the clock running down.
Cumbria then didn’t make life easy for themselves conceding a penalty in their own 22. The hosts took a tap penalty and for the only time all afternoon the Cumbrian tackling was poor and let in a soft try under the posts. The conversion was quickly taken and there were a few more nervy minutes but Cumbria held on for a well-deserved win.
