Wath Brow A won the battle of the top two in the Holmen Iggesund Cumberland ARL.
Needing to win to keep alive their title hopes, the Hornets came out on top 35-28 after a cracking contest between two sides who had to promote their youngsters.
With both being short of regulars for one reason or another, several teenagers had to step up to the plate and show their potential.
The Hornets had led 20-16 after a particularly hard-fought first-half but after the third quarter of the game had increased that advantage to 35-16.
Champions and table leaders Distington rallied and three unconverted tries in the last 11 minutes gave them a squeak before the Hornets edged home.
Brad White had scored an unconverted try for the Brow after just three minutes but five minutes later Phil Lister’s try brought Distington level and Scott Rooke’s conversion edged the visitors ahead.
Back came the Brow with tries in the 19th, 25th and 29th minutes to go 20-16 ahead. Daley Stables, Greg Dawson and Leyton Dockray all crossed with Jenson Olstrum converting the first two.
But Distington finished the half strongly as Jack Worthington and Rooke got over for tries, his own converted by Rooke.
It was the third quarter which really settled the contest. Olstrum (42), Mark Miller (47) and Luke Spivey (56) crossed for Wath Brow tries with the second converted by Olstrum.
For added insurance Devan Sharp added a field goal on 61 minutes.
The champions responded well but could not quite do enough. Tyrone Dalton (69), Matt Hewer (71) and Nicky Cook (74) all scored unconverted tries.
Match referee Rob Jones described the derby clash between Glasson and Maryport
as a “brilliant game” settled in the end by a first half field goal.
Blake Miller dropped the one-pointer after 39 minutes to help Maryport into a 19-6 half-time lead and it mattered at the end when they were holding on at 25-24.
Maryport had been 18-0 ahead before Glasson pulled a converted try back and then Miller added what proved to be the important one-pointer.
Within 15 minutes Glasson had roared into a 24-19 lead and it stayed that way until five minutes from time when Danny Fiddler’s try, converted by Miller won it.
Greg Wrathall, Connor Wilson, Shane Williams and John Dollachin scored the Glasson tries with Luke Johnson landing four goals.
For Maryport there were tries from Luke Baker, Ellis Nixon, Carl Steele and Fiddler plus four Miller goals. It was his field goal that made the difference.
The third game saw Ellenborough A back in action but they were beaten 32-4 at home by Kells A.
The visitors had gone in front on 12 minutes with a try from Jamie Jennings which was converted by Martin O’Neil, but Ace Wedgewood went in on 24 minutes with an unconverted try for the hosts.
O’Neil scored Kells’ second try on 28 minutes and then improved Kieran Halcrow’s try a minute before the half-time break for a 16-4 lead.
Kells scored three unanswered tries in the second half from Nathan Clark (2) and Jennings with O’Neil converting two of them.
