Kells left it late, but earned their second home draw of the season against one of the National Conference Premier Division’s top three.
Two weeks ago it finished 8-8 against the champions Hunslet ARLFC and this weekend it was Rochdale Mayfield who were held 6-6.
Seven minutes from the end a 40-20 from Dominic Wear put Kells in an attacking position and from there Clarke Chambers went over for the try. Wear converted.
Indeed Kells could have won it seconds from the end but a drop goal attempt fell agonisingly short.
Mayfield had gone in front after 27 minutes with a try from Nick Hargreaves which Jordan Parr converted.
“It was another tight game and a good performance again from the lads. We just have to replicate that going forward,” said coach Peter Smith.
Egremont had been runners-up to West Bowling in Division One last season and both were promoted with the Bradford team winning both encounters.
But the Mont gained ample revenge in the higher flight when they won 24-16 at Gillfoot to collect their second victory of the season.
Coach Rhys Davies said: “It was a very good performance to make sure we came out of it with the two points.
“After playing up the hill in the first-half we went into the break at 12-12 and I always knew we would turn the screw in the second half and pull away.
“We dominated possession for a good part of the second half and scored some nice tries to clinch the win.
“This is hopefully a sign of better things to come, especially when the pitches start to dry out as it was hard going on Saturday in testing conditions.”
Early in the second-half Leon Crellin had gone over for the home side to edge them in front and when West Bowling had Liam Coe sin-binned for dissent Egremont took full advantage, scoring tries from Frazer McNee and Jack Conway.
Although the visitors scored the last try of the game it was never going to threaten the Egremont lead.
In the first-half Tom Horner and Crellin scored tries for Egremont which were both converted by Matty Bewsher.
It’s been a tricky start for Wath Brow Hornets and they were beaten 38-12 at champions Hunslet ARLFC after being in front just before half-time.
The Hornets had led 12-10 after 38 minutes with tries from Charlie Tomlinson and Ellison Holgate, both converted by Cole Walker-Taylor.
But the champions scored an unconverted try just before the half-time whistle to lead 14-12 and in a disappointing second-half for the west Cumbrians they fell well out of contention as Hunslet scored four unanswered second-half tries with three of them converted.
All three Cumbrian clubs lost in Division Two against three of the current top four in that League.
Millom switched their game to south Cumbria after4the Sharks’ pitch in Dewsbury was under water but the 100% leaders went home with a 28-14 win.
The Woollybacks did stage a second-half recovery after trailing 16-6 at half-time, which had grown to 26-6 soon after the interval – but it wasn’t enough.
Kyle Evans had scored the first-half try, converted by Lee Postlethwaite, while Kai Williams and Layton French scored unconverted second-half tries for the hosts.
Barrow Island lost to second in the table Wigan St. Jude’s 62-12, and were always chasing the game after trailing 26-6 at the break.
Jake Stockdale and Finley Dutton-Rosconie scored the Islanders tries, both improved by Sam Jones.
Ellenborough Rangers lost 31-20 at fourth-in-the-table Normanton Knights and also suffered the loss of second-row forward Jonty Hill with a serious knee injury.
Coach Paul Gorge said: “I think it was a very good performance against a tough Normanton side who were especially strong down the middle which we expected.
“I was very hopeful when we pulled it back to 20-20 and I think it was another game where we could have won it.
“Our forward Jonty Hill suffered a dislocated knee and the game was stopped for half an hour while we waited for an ambulance. Fortunately it was put back in and he was able to travel back with us.
“I would just like to thank the Normanton club for how they responded to the injury. They were nice people and a good club.”
Elbra had trailed 20-4 at half-time with Ryan Wilson their try-scorer but they responded well with tries from Ben Robinson (2) and Kai Gilhespy with Rocco Okesene piutting over two goals.
Hensingham share the lead in Division Three with Drighlington and Distington after they won 22-12a t Beverley.
It was a fine second-half come-back from the Cumbrians who had crossed in the first-half through Matthew Williams.
Miller Dalton (2), Daniel McGarry and Jay Weatherill scored tries with just the one conversion from Weatherill.
Coach Kris Coward said: “It was a bit of a nightmare trip, taking over five hours because of traffic and going to the wrong Beverley club.
“Beverley were fine about agreeing to a delayed kick-off but we were leggy and still on the bus for most of the first-half. Mistakes and ill-discipline didn’t help us.
“We tried to be more direct in the second-half and we played really well to come from behind and win it without conceding another point.
“For the last two years the team would often capitulate after going behind but this season the lads are priding themselves on their defence and have the confidence to fight back after going behind.”
Seaton Rangers are still looking for their first win of the season after they went down 54-6 at Drighlington. Their only points came from a try and conversion from Jon-Karl Bryan 14 minutes from the end.
Coach Neil Frazer said: “It didn’t help that we had another cry-off on the morning of the game and I ended up with six of last season’s Under-16’s side in the team.
“It is such a massive step up to National Conference Three and the lads all have potential and gave everything in effort but are short of the physicality at the moment.
“We played on a big rugby union pitch at Morley and in the second-half in particular, as we tired, the pitch seemed bigger and wider with theirnbig forwards taking advantage.
“But I told the lads afterwards we can’t feel sorry for ourselves, it is what it is and we just have to get on with it. I hope to have some experienced players back in a fortnight when we face Distington and I hope we can get in four good training sessions before then.”
