Kells got back on track after two defeats on Humberside when they beat Siddal 31-28 in a hard-fought clash in West Cumbria.
It was an important win for Peter Smith’s side, too, as it lifted them three places in the National Conference Premier Division table.
Siddal had shown no early lethargy after their coach journey, and went 12-0 ahead with two converted tries.
But Kells got themselves back into it, pulling level with tries from Ross Gainford and Mason Lewthwaite, both converted by Gainford.
Back came Siddal with a third converted try to go back in front but even with Joe Johnson in the sin bin Kells came back level before the break with a try by Dominic Wear, converted by Gainford.
A big effort in the third quarter of the game virtually won it for Kells as they pulled away to lead 31-18 with tries from Johnson and Lewthwaite, converted by Gainford who also put over a field goal.
Siddal staged a late fight-back with two tries, one of which was converted, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Kells victory.
Wath Brow Hornets stayed on the heels of the leaders Hunslet Amateurs and Rochdale Mayfield with a fine 36-4 victory at Thatto Heath Crusaders.
Jay Weatherill continued his impressive scoring record by grabbing four tries, two of them in each half as the Hornets built on a 20-0 half-time lead to put themselves well out of sight.
Sam Curwen and Daniel Burns also scored tries in the first-half with Weatherill popping-up with his hat-trick try three minutes into the second period.
The only points for the Crusaders came almost on the hour mark but after their unconverted try it was business as usual for the Hornets with further tries from Clarke Riley and Weatherill with Curwen finishing with four goals.
Egremont continued their significant progress in Division One with a fine 40-8 win at Clock Face Miners, which was their fifth victory in a row.
It stemmed from a dominant second-half performance when the Cumbrians powered away after being limited to a 12-8 lead at the break.
The seven Egremont tries were scored by Brad Long (2), Sam Appleby (2), Matt Bewsher, Cian Sharpe and Arron Turnbull with Kris Tyson putting over six successful kicks.
There was a thriller in Division Two where Barrow Island held off the challenge of Dewsbury Celtic to win 23-22 – tighter than it looked earlier in the game.
The Islanders had led 16-0 with Celtic grabbing an unconverted try before the break, but in the end needed Adam Jackson’s late field goal to secure the win after a late rally by the visitors.
Barrow Island’s four tries were scored by Chris Burns, Adam Ford, Fin Rosconie and Shane Sanderson with Jackson landing three conversions.
None of the Cumbrian sides were playing in Division Three but have two derby clashes to look forward to this Saturday – Ellenborough v Millom and Seaton v Hensingham.
