While Wath Brow A were being turned over by Kells A their Cumberland ARL title rivals Distington were proving too strong for Lowca.
The latest round of fixtures in the Holmen Iggesund-sponsored League saw the champions steal a march on their main rivals.
Wath Brow always looked to have the tougher task in their game at Kells A, who are always keen to put one over on their neighbours.
It finished 22-6 for the hosts but that was built on a 16-0 first-half lead as the second-half was shared 6-6.
The opening try came on 19 minutes when Harley Nelson got over the Brow line and added the conversion.
Three minutes later they were in again through William Ennis and again Nelson added the extras.
The third Kells try came after 29 minutes when Nelson nipped over for his second try but this time failed to convert.
The second-half was a much tighter affair and both tries came in the last eight minutes.
On 72 minutes Ennis went over for his second try and Nelson converted and three minutes from the end Evan Alick scored a late consolation for the Hornets with Cole Walker-Taylor adding the goal.
The victory was made even sweeter for Kells by the fact that they were playing for the Cameron ‘Tadge’ Taylor Memorial Trophy, a former player who died in a works accident.
Distington proved too strong for Lowca as they were 50-12 winners after establishing a 34-12 lead by half-time which effectively wrapped up the game.
It took only two minutes for Distington to take the lead when Andy Hunter went over for the opening try which was converted by Steve Clark.
Lowca hit back immediately with a try from Luke Stockton, which Jamie Scott improved, so at 6-6 after ten minutes it was even stevens.
But three tries in the space of eight minutes from Callum Swindale, Steve Conway and James Motum, two converted by Clark swept the champions into a 22-6 lead.
To their credit Lowca did respond and on 28 minutes Stockton got in for his second try which Scott converted for a 22-12 deficit.
But Distington hadn’t finished and before half-time added further tries from Kieran Worthington and Clark, both converted by Clark.
Lowca battled hard but the three tries scored in the second-half nall came from Distington as Jack Speight (2) and Clark got over the home line. Clark converted two of them.
Maryport are still searching for the form that won them the E Lamb and Son Amateur Cup as they went down 28-12 at Hensingham A.
Most of the scoring came in the first half and, indeed, the only points in the second-half came from an unconverted try on 45 minutes from Hensingham’s Luca Huddlestone.
After only eight minutes Hensingham were leading 12-4 – scoring a first minute try by Travis Fyfe and again on four minutes through Noel Branthwaite. Both were converted by Dane Richardson.
Maryport hit back with a try from Josh Patterson before Richardson crossed for Hensingham and converted after 16 minutes.
Maryport got themselves right back in the game at 18-12 with two unconverted tries by Chris Ivison and Olly Metcalfe but crucially, in the last two minutes of the half, the home side scored two tries through Callum Morgan and Huddlestone, with Richardson converting the first.
Huddlestone’s quick score five minutes into the second half proved to be the only further score despite close calls at both ends.
A week earlier Egremont A and Glasson Rangers had fought-out a 24-24 draw at Gillfoot. The return was almost as close but Egremont just managed to prevail 34-28.
Glasson, though, had held a 12-6 lead at the break with tries from Shane Williams (21) and Matthew Burns (25), both converted by Luke Johnson before Frazer McNee went over seven minutes before the interval and Darren Block converted.
At the end of the first quarter it looked to be heading for another draw as the sides were locked together at 18-18.
Albert McKay crossed twice for Egremont in the 46th and 54th minutes with Block converting but Jonathon Cameron’s try on 57 minutes which Johnson improved put the sides level.
Then two unconvertedtries inside five minutes from Frazer McNee and Lennox Hunter gave Egremont a handy eight point advantage.
Back came Glasson with a try from Johnson, which he was unable to convert, before two more tries from McNee in the 75th and 78th minutes pushed the visitors clear.
Although Williams scored a try in the last minute for Glasson and Johnson kicked the goal it left them six points shy at the final whistle.
