Kells produced a gutsy performance to shock National Conference Premier Division champions Hunslet ARLFC in West Cumbria.
It finished 8-8 in tough conditions and was the first time the visitors had dropped points in their defence of the title.
Coach Peter Smith hadn’t been happy about how his side performed in their defeat last week at York Acorn but this was more like it.
He said afterwards: “It was a great effort by everyone. I asked for a reaction from last week’s game and they all defended very well and in difficult conditions.”
Kells had got off to a great start with a try in the first minute from Grant Gainford but it couldn’t be converted in the windy conditions.
Within five minutes the champions had gone ahead with a try from Craig McShane which Jordan Gale did manage to convert.
Back came Kells with a second unconverted try, this time from Lewis Smith and they were still in front at the break.
In a tense, hard-fought second-half the only points came from the boot of Gale with an equalising penalty.
Ian Rooney was another coach who expected a reaction from his side after a below par performance a week earlier.
His Wath Brow players delivered, too, as the defeat against Egremont was followed up with a 36-18 home win against the bottom side West Bowling.
Hornets had got off to a great start racing into a 14-0 lead but they had a bit pof a wobble and it was only 18-12 at the break.
More strong words from Rooney at the break had the desired effect as they ran pout comfortable winners in the end.
Morgan McCourt (2), Peter Caddy and Sam Curwen had scored first-half tries, with one converted by Curwen.
Then in the second-half there were touchdowns from Curwen, Ellison Holgate and skipper Fran King – all converted by Curwen.
Egremont followed Wath Brow to Thatto Heath and they lost to the St Helens side 22-6, but gave a battling performance in defeat.
Coach Rhys Davies said: “I thought we had a good dig against a very strong Thatto Heath side.
“The game was going to be won by the side which controlled the ball better and at times we coughed up possession without pressurising their defence.
“We have a week off now so I’m hoping to get a few bodies back for the start of April when we have two home games.”
After going 12-0 behind, Egremont pegged it back to 12-6 at the break with a try from Michael Elwood, converted by Matty Bewsher.
The home side scored two tries without reply in the second-half to consolidate their lead, crossing in the 44th minute and again three minutes from time.
In Division Two there were victories for all three Cumbrian sides – with Millom and Barrow Island seeing-off teams lying second and third respectively in flicting their first defeats of the season.
Millom were particularly pleased with their performance in a tough home clash with Dewsbury Celtic which ended 12-4 in their favour.
After conceding the first try of the game on 29 minutes the Woollybacks came back to lead 6-4 at the break with a try from Jude Lupton, converted by Jackson Evans.
Three minutes after the change-over Dom O’Brien went over for a second Millom try, again converted by Evans and that was the end of the scoeing.
Barrow Island won a cracking contest 18-16 at home to Normanton Knights, despite twice having to play with 12 men as Jordan Staffieri (late tackle on 15 minutes) and Finley Dutton-Rosconie (for dissent on 69 minutes) spent time in the bin.
The Islanders had led 12-6 at half-time but then found themselves 16-12 behind before getting home in a big finish.
Dutton-Rosconie was off the field when they scored the crucial try to level the scores on 73 minutes and Sam Jones’ conversion won it.
Max Anderson-Moore (on dual registration from Barrow), Carl McBain and Adam Ford scored the Millom tries with Jones kicking three goals.
Ellenborough roared back to winning ways when they beat the bottom side Pilkington Recs 36-6 in west Cumbria to please coach Paul Gorge.
“They had some big lads who were strong in the middle and on their right edge but we defended really well and I was very pleased with the performance.
“The lads ground it out well in the first half against a very strong wind and in the second half we scored some very good tries,” said Gorge.
It was only 12-0 at half-time with tries from Zac Olstrum and Matty Bell, both converted by Sean Mumberson and Pilkington were encouraged when they scored a converted try seven minutes into the second-half.
But Elbra seized control and raced away with the game led by John Todd who scored a hat-trick of tries inside a 20-minute spell with Olstrum adding his second try near the end. Mumberson finished with six out of six goal attempts.
Distington still lead Division Three but could have been in a much better position at the top after dropping points at home to Beverley.
They led 20-0 at half-time, were shocked as the visitors drew level and then went back in front with a penalty only to lose it 26-22 from the last play of the game.
Coach Aiden Worthington said: “I can’t believe it really. I thought we had won it twice, only for it to be lost at the death.
“I don’t make excuses but maybe it was something to do with the flu bug at the club which has affected a lot of players. We looked a bit leggy late on and maybe that had something to do with it.
“We had lost two forwards in the first-half so lads had to do big minutesb as well. But we will learn from it and move on.”
Scott Rooke, Jack Speight and Jack Penrice had scored tries for Distington with Scott George landing five goals.
Seaton Rangers were beaten 28-6 at home by Leigh East, but had their opportunities and it should have been a lot closer.
Coach Neil Frazer said: “There were a lot of positives to take from it despite the defeat and I certainly got a response from the lads after the Hensingham defeat last week.
“Just before half-time we were going in for a try when our man had the ball ripped out one-on-one and at the start of the second half we were through again but the lad dropped the ball with the line begging.
“If we had scored those two it would have made a big difference but unfortunately we kept giving daft penalties away and inviting them back into our own half, which told in the end.”
Seaton had actually gone in front with an early try by Joe Curwen, converted by Jon-Carl Bryan and although it was 12-6 to the visitors at the break that didn’t really reflect the hosts contribution to the game.
The visitors had a man sent-off after 54 minutes but Seaton couldn’t make the man advantage pay and they scored 16 unanswered points to move second in the table.
