Kells, Egremont and Ellenborough made the headline news among the Cumbrian clubs in the National Conference.
A 20-10 home win over Leigh Miners Rangers meant Kells are assured of another season in the Premier Division; Egremont Rangers are closing in on automatic promotion from Division One after a fine 42-6 win at Skirlaugh and Ellenborough are promoted from Division Three but missed out on the title by not scoring one more try.
Kells knew that if they beat Leigh Miners they would avoid the drop and condemn their opponents to relegation.
They were as good as on their way with a 16-4 half-time lead although the visitors did win the second-half 6-4 but Kells stayed strong to the end to see them through to victory.
Harry Watson had given Kells the lead but the visitors levelled before tries by Dylan Grears and Mason Lewthwaite, both converted by Ross Gainford, took the hosts clear at half-time.
Lewthwaite scored his second try five minutes after the re-start and although Leigh added a converted try on the hour they couldn’t get any nearer.
Egremont Rangers are in the second automatic promotion position in Division One, as they bid to regain their place in the top flight at the first attempt.
They currently lead Heworth by two points but their rivals do have a game in hand. It could come down to scoring differential and at the moment Rangers are 112 to the good – so in a very strong position.
They had opened up a 28-6 advantage by half-time over their hosts and scored 14 unanswered points to make it a long, but pleasing journey home.
Sam Appleby led the way with a hat-trick of tries while Matt Bewsher collected two. Kristian Tyson, Arron Turnbull and Leon Crellin scored the other tries with Tyson landing five goals.
There was a dramatic finish for Ellenborough at Hensingham where they won 38-4. Leaders Oldham St Anne’s held on to top spot by beating Beverley 38-6. That two point swing to Elbra in the differential wasn’t quite enough – but four points from another try would have done.
In the last six minutes Paul Gorge’s men scored twice through Zac Olstrum and Matty Bell but it wasn’t quite enough.
Jaylen Coway had scored an unconverted try for Hensingham in the second minute but Elbra led 12-4 at the break with tris from Kai Gilhespy, Keenan Winter and Olstrum.
Sean Mumberson, Niall Gray and Bell were the other try scorers while Owen Hoyles kicked three goals.
Up in the Premier League Wath Brow put up a good fight at leaders Hunslet Amateurs before going down 26-12,
They were very much in contention at 16-12 midway through the second-half but a late surge by the home side carried them clear.
Ellison Holgate and Fran King scored tries for the Hornets and there were conversions by Jay Weatherill and Cole Walker-Taylor.
In Division Two Barrow Island are hanging onto a play-off place but only just after a 48-6 defeat at Dewsbury Celtic.
It represented a decent effort because the Islanders included five Under-16’s in their line-up. They were just 8-6 behind at half-time and ten minutes from the end it was still only 16-6.
But a raft of tries in the closing stages gave rather a false impression to a gallant show by the young Islanders side. Ryan Wilson scored their try and Fin Dutton-Rosconie added the goal.
In Division Three Millom clinched third sport with a 48-6 win at bottom side Seaton Rangers – but it all depended on a late score.
Needing to win by 39 points to pip Leigh East for third place, Millom were well on the way leading 42-0 with three minutes left.
But Tom Dover hadn’t read the script as he went in for a Seaton try and Duncan Hoyle put over the goal.
In a desperate last gasp attack Kyle Evans got over for the vital try with Lee Postlethwaite landing his sixth goal.
Jonathan Hodgson shone for the Woollybacks, scoring four tries with the other touchdowns being scored by Niall Harris, Owen High, Jack Newbegin and Rio McQuistan.
