The first final of the season in the Holmen Iggesund Cumberland ARL was staged at Distington last night and it went to the underdogs.
Wath Brow A had beaten Maryport comfortably in a League game earlier in the season and were fully expected to follow-up in the E Lamb and Son Amateur Cup final.
But it didn’t work out like that as a spirited, enthusiastic performance from a young Maryport side earned them a deserved 20-14 victory.
A new Maryport coaching team, headed by former captain Mark Foster, have put their faith in youth since they took charge ahead of the new season and it has paid early dividends.
Foster said: “We are very proud of what the team has achieved in such a short time. They have really bought into what we are trying to do and with so many young players in the squad it bodes well for the future.
“It really speaks volumes for the youth system and youth coaches we have in place at the club.”
They had got off to the best possible start with two tries, both unconverted, in the first 20 minutes through wingers Attlee Skillen and Luke Cremins.
They had moved the ball smartly on each occasion and were rewarded with scores out wide which Josh Patterson couldn’t convert.
Wath Brow had been slow into their stride but before half-time they pulled level, and also had a try disallowed for a forward pass.
Tom Clarke crossed on 28 minutes and Luke Spivey got in right on half-time, but again the kicks were off target from a wide angle.
In the second half the Hornets seemed to be taking charge and when James McCartney forced his way over from close range on 48 minutes and Jenson Olstrum converted it looked odds on a Wath Brow victory.
“If the Brow had scored next to open up a 12 point lead I think that would have been it,” admitted Foster.
But Maryport responded superbly and on 56 minutes they were level when Chris Ivison took advantage of a defensive error under a kick to score a try which Patterson converted.
Then to the delight of the Maryport fans in the 500-plus crowd Cremins squeezed in for the winning try on 68 minutes after great work by Patterson.
Wath Brow had some strong pressure in the closing stages but they couldn’t find a way through Maryport’s resilient defence.
When it was over Maryport skipper Scott Atherton collected the E Lamb and Son Amateur Cup, and the hard-working prop forward also deservedly won the Man of the Match award.
