Kells came out on top in the first National Conference Premier Division derby of the season against Egremont.
It finished 24-8 to Peter Smith’s side, who was well pleased with the first half performance which established an 18-0 lead.
Smith, however, wasn’t as happy about the second-half effort which he felt was scrappy – and in fact was won 8-6 by newly promoted Egremont.
As for Rhys Davies, the new Egremont coach, he said: “It was just a bad day at the office to be fair. It was a very poor first half with poor discipline and falling off tackles.
“We played better in the second-half but nowhere near the standard we should be reaching.”
James Ennis had crossed in the ninth minute to give Kells the lead and Dominic Wear landed the first of his four conversions.
But when Rangers had Mitch Edwards sin-binned for head-to-head contact Kells made them pay – twice.
Sam Murtagh and Grant Gainford crossed for tries and with Wear’s conversions it was 18-0 at the break.
Nathan Preston went over for Egremont’s first try on 48 minutes to suggest a Rangers’ fight-back but Kells’ fourth try from Clarke Chambers, again improved by Wear, was the killer.
Leon Crellin did cross for a second Egremont try ten minutes from time but it was too little too late for the visitors.
Prop David Lowery had an outstanding game for Kells while Egremont stalwart half-back John Paul Brocklebank shone for the visitors.
After just two weeks of the season Kells are Cumbria’s leading side in third place, but it’s very early days.
Wath Brow suffered their first defeat when they went down 30-20 at Thatto Heath Crusaders.
The Hornets had actually scored first through Ellison Holgate midway through the fitrst period when Cole Walker-Taylor converted.
But it all went wrong for the Cumbrians in a seven minute period ahead of half-time when the Crusaders crossed three times through Adam Saunders, Andy Lea and Jamie Tracey, two of them converted by Jake Dickinson.
Sam Curwen got the Brow back into it with a try on 53 minutes but then a try from Dave Pike and two Dickinson goals pushed the home side 14 points clear.
Aiden Dawson did eat into that lead with Wath Brow’s third try 10 minutes from the end.
But another Crusaders try from Brad Pinder, converted by Dickinson virtually wrapped up the points before Curwen’s second try of the game and Walker-Taylor’s conversion were the final scores of the contest.
In Division Two there were wins for both Millom and Barrow Island, but Ellenborough Rangers were beaten 36-24 at Saddleworth Rangers.
Going into the last quarter of an even contest between the respective Rangers it was all square at 24-24.
But two converted tries for the home side saw them over the line.
The four Ellenborough tries had been scored by Garry Taylor, Ryan Wilson, Rocco Okesene and Kevin Hoban, all four being converted by Keenan Winter.
Millom and visitors Pilkington Recs were locked together at 6-6 when they took their half-time breaks.
Niall Harris had started proceedings with the first Millom try, converted by Lee Postlethwaite but the visitors were level by the break with a try by Jon Key which Ryan Liptrot converted.
A minute into the second-half Pilkington had Scott Simmons sin-binned for a dangerous tackle and during his absence Millom went ahead again with an unconverted try by Josh Blinkhorn.
Soon after Simmons return Millom crossed again through Connor Terrill who is on dual registration from Barrow Raiders.
When Pilks had another man yellow-carded – Callum Derrick for a professional foul – Postlethwaite went in for another Millom try.
The visitors did manage a second try in the final minute through Elliot Martin which Liptrot converted but far too late to affect the outcome.
Millom’s south Cumbrian rivals Barrow Island were far too strong for Myton Warriors and beat their visitors 44-14.
In fact the Islanders were 44-0 clear before Myton scored three tries in the last eight minutes, one of which was converted.
Barrow Island, who led 28-0 at half-time, scored tries through Ryan Wilson (2), Adam Ford (2), Brandon Corrie, Josh McBain, Finley Dutton-Rosconie and Aidan Wright. Sam Jones tagged on six goals.
No doubt about the top performance in Division Three – Hensingham’s fine 34-10 party-pooping win at Bentley.
In what was probably Hensingham’s best result in the National Conference they spoiled Bentley’s big day as their hosts were officially opening their new clubhouse.
The victory was built on a statement-making first half display in which they established a 16-0 lead.
Deon Crowe went in for the opening try on 20 minutes and was followed over before the break by Callum Morgan and Reuben Butterworth. Former Wath Brow finisher Jay Weatherill converted two of them.
Jonny Marshall raised Bentley’s hopes of a comeback with an unconverted try on 54 minutes but Weatherill sliced through from full-back 11 minutes later and the points were heading back to west Cumbria.
Man of the match Jack Kellett went in 10 minutes from time before winger Daniel McGarry added Hensingham’s sixth try. Weatherill finished with five goals.
Bentley did score again in the last 10 minutes but by then Hensingham had soared well clear.
Seaton Rangers put up a gritty performance in defeat at early League leaders East Leeds, going down 16-6.
They were always in the contest after going in at half-time only trailing 8-0.
Lewis Mason scored the Seaton try which was converted by Liam Williamson.
New boys Distington celebrated their first home game in the Conference with their second win to stay on the heels of East Leeds.
They beat Milford 22-0 to back-up that narrow opening day success at Hensingham.
Coach Aiden Worthington said: “We didn’t play our best rugby but we got the job done. It was also good to give some young lads some game time.
“We had the wind in the first-half but it was only 8-0 at the break and it dropped a bit in the second-half when we scored some great tries.”
James Friel scored the only first-half try and Scott George landed two goals but in the second-half there were tries for Liam Friel, Kieran Worthington and Jack Speight. George converted one.
