Both Hensingham and Ellenborough couldn’t get out second teams last week – but pledged it wouldn’t happen again in the Holmen Iggesund Cumberland ARL.
Both had their first outings of the season this weekend and were impressive winners – Hensingham A by 32-6 at Egremont A while Ellenborough won 62-16 at Flimby.
Friday night’s game at Gillfoot was close in the first-half with Hensingham leading 10-6 at half-time but they pulled away after the break to win well and without conceding another point.
Man of the match Liam Quaile, Matthew Williams, Noel Branthwaite, Andrew Smith, Koby Conway and Dylan Cromwell scored the Hensingham tries, four of them converted by Dylan Bragg.
Dillon Scott went over for the Egremont try which was converted by Lee Rogers with Jordan Baird winning their man of the match award.
In Saturday’s game at Flimby the home side trailed 30-10 at half-time to a lively Elbra second team.
The visitors finished with 12 tries in the end led by the experienced Kevin Hoban (3), with the other touchdowns coming from Jason Graham, Connor Irving, Ethan Charlton, Josh Pattinson, Kian Dempsey, Joe Appleby, Tyler Edgar, Danny Healy and Ace Wedgewood.
Pattinson kicked seven goals and although he didn’t get on the score-sheet Jason Todd was Elbra’s man of the match.
For Flimby there tries for Nathan Kirkbride, Sam Fearon and Darren Degraff with Rhys Booty landing two goals. Ryan Williams was their man of the match.
Glasson Rangers collected their second win in the League when they travelled south to take on newcomers and came home with a 32-12 victory.
It was a good win in the end because at half-time it looked as though it could either way with the sides locked together at 6-6.
Kieran Norman scored both tries for Askam with Luke McIntee adding the conversions and Dale Lampton was man of the match.
Glasson had too much in the tank for the home side and pulled away with tries from Matt Burns (2), Matt Johnson (2), Connor Wilson and
Tyler Beals kicked four goals and Bobby Benson was their man of the match.
Maryport are expected to be one of the sides competing strongly at the sharp end this season and they signalled their intentions with a 54-4 win at Aspatria.
They have coaxed ex-Workington and Whitehaven pro Sam Forrester back into the game and he was on the score-sheet as Maryport helped themselves to ten tries. The other touchdowns came from Blake Miller (2), Danny Dryden (2), Luke Cremins, Ashley Smith, Joel Baker, Scott Atherton and man of the match Luke Baker.
Their seven conversions came from Blake Miller (4) and Craig Foster (3).
Aspatria’s man of the match Mark Irwin scored the Hornets try in the first-half when they trailed 20-4 at the break.
On paper the best game of the week-end was the clash between Cockermouth and Lowca. Originally down to be played at Lowca it was switched because of concerns of the pitch, and with a National Cup-tie to be played there next week.
Cockermouth were happy to stage the reversed fixture and it proved every bit as tight and exciting as predicted.
Lowca shaded the first-half 20-16 and with both sides just adding six points apiece in the second-half it finished 22-26.
For Cockermouth there were tries from Dave Whitworth (2) and Regan Tinnion (2) with man of the match Tinnion converting three of the four.
The Lowca tries came from Mitchell Todd, Xenden Callender, Luke Weightman, Jordan Allen and Emerson Allen. Finn Barwise was their man of the match with two goals from Jamie Scott and one by Keith Campbell.
Both teams had to deal with men in the men – Tinnion and player coach Liam McAvoy had 10 minutes each in the cooler with Mitchell Todd also spending time off the field for Lowca.
The game between Wath Brow A and Distington A was called-off because of a flu bug in the Distington club and they were unable to raise sufficient fit players.
Next week’s fixtures: Week ending Saturday March 30
BARLA NATIONAL CUP
- Lowca v Keighley Albion
- Holmen Iggesund Premier Division
- Maryport v Flimby
- Aspatria v Glasson Rangers
- Kells A v Ellenborough A
- Distington A v Cockermouth
