Cumbria’s top three clubs, contesting the National Conference Premier Division, were all beaten in tough assignments.
They were up against top four opposition and fell short, although Wath Brow Hornets did lead at Siddal with just 14 minutes left.
Indeed the Hornets looked set for an excellent result as they enjoyed an 18-10 advantage only for their hosts to produce a big finish and score 16 unanwered points for a 26-18 victory.
Ian Rooney’s men had always had their noses in front until that late Siddal surge and had built on a 10-4 interval lead.
Morgan McCourt and Charlie Tomlinson scored tries for the Brow with Cole Walker-Taylor booting five goals, but those three late tries swung it Siddal’s way.
Kells had drawn with two of the top four through gritty performances but were left disappointed when they couldn’t follow-up against West Hull.
They lost 30-6 with their only try coming just before half-time from Sam Murtagh and Ross Gainford converting.
But it was West Hull who were able to build on their 18-6 half-time lead while Kells were unable to add to their points tally.
Peter Smith, the Kells coach, said: “West Hull controlled the play-the-ball better than us and had more conviction. You cannot disrespect the tackle and discipline in this Division otherwise you will get what we got off West Hull.”
The third Cumbrian side Egremont went down 34-4 at Rochdale Mayfield, dropping out of contention through conceding 20 unanswered points in the second half.
Michael Ellwood had scored Egremont’s only try after 23 minutes to briefly pull them level but Mayfield scored two further tries before the break and in the second-half dominated by scoring four more.
Egremont coach Rhys Davies said: “I couldn’t fault the lads effort but we just ran out of steam at the back end of the game.
“Having had to make a good few changes to the squad ultimately made me make lads play longer minutes than usual.
“But we will dust ourselves off and prepare for the next game in a fortnight.”
Ellenborough Rangers returned to winning ways when they beat visitors Dewsbury Celtic 26-18.
After an hour it looked as though they were going to run away with it as they led 24-6 before Celtic staged a rally and a penalty from Keenan Winter was Elbra’s only further score.
Earlier Elbra had scored tries through Zac Olstrom (2), Andy Ostle and Ben Robinson, all converted by Winter.
Coach Paul Gorge said: “Actually I think Celtic were the best team we’ve played. They were a really mobile side who moved the ball around and we really had to be on our mettle to get the win.
“It was the first home game since we sadly lost Sean Tierney and the lads really wanted to put on a performance in his memory. They certainly did that against a very good team and each single one of them put a shift in.”
Barrow Island also scored their third win of the season when they just got the better of Saddleworth Rangers 28-24.
It was tough in the end as they just held on but after 26 minutes it looked as though they were going to romp home with an 18-0 lead.
At one point is it was 22-18 to the Islanders and in a tense finish they each scored a converted try.
Josh McBain, Carl McBain, Ryan Wilson, Brad Warne and Adam Ford scored the Islanders tries with Finley Dutton-Rosconie converting four of them.
Millom, though, lost out in an even tighter contest as they went down 22-20 to visitors Thornhill Trojans.
It was a nail-biting contest and it could have finished all square but Lee Postlethwaite’s last minute conversion attempt was wide after Rio Walker had touched down in the dying seconds.
They had been 10-0 down at one point but approaching the closing stages they were level at 16-16. The Trojans scored a converted try with two minutes left but Millom’s last-gasp response just couldn’t bear fruit.
Kai Williams, Josh Blinkhorn and Daniel Hartley scored Millom’s other tries with Postlethwaite converting two.
Top match in Division Three was the local derby between Seaton Rangers and Distington, who went into the contest with a contrast in fortunes. Distington sat joint top and Seaton were still looking for their first point.
It went Distington’s way, 16-12 but Seaton pushed them all the way and contributed in full to a competitive, hard-fought contest.
Distington had led 8-0 at half-time with two unconverted tries from Callum Fox and Jordan Scott – the second while Seaton were down to 12 with Grant Bethwaite in the bin.
Gavin Martin made it 12-0 with a try on 49 minutes but then Distington had Keith Hunter yellow-carded for a high tackle. During his absence Seaton came back with a try from Ellis Nixon, which Bethwaite converted.
Nicky Cook scored Distington’s fourth unconverted try on 73 minutes but Seaton had the last word with a try three minutes from time by Steve Newell which Jon Carl Bryan converted.
Distington coach Aiden Worthington said: “I think we were the better side and the game wasn’t as tight as that. We scored four good tries but didn’t convert any of them or it could have been a bit more convincing.
“In some ways I think it was a bit of a Cup final for Seaton and they put a lot into it.”
Neil Frazer the Seaton coach said: “People are saying rugby league is dead around here but I think this disproved it. There were around 400 people watching two teams going hammer and tongs at each other and you couldn’t move in the clubhouse afterwards. I think they ran out of drink.
“But from our point of view it was an improved performance but Distington were just that bit smarter with the ball. Scott George was the difference and he created their opportunities.
“I think we did well to get it back to 16-12 after going 16-6 behind late on and it has given us encouragement with a week’s break before the next game at Bentley.”
Hensingham were going toe-to-toe with East Leeds at 18-18 before the home side grabbed two late tries to win 28-18.
Adam Williamson, Miller Dalton and Dan McGarry scored the Hensingham tries, converted by Jay Weatherill.
Hensingham coach Kris Coward said: “I was on night shift so couldn’t travel but from what I’ve heard we were unlucky, and everyone was really disappointed about it.
“Apparently thr penalty count was 18-1 against us. Now I know we’ve had discipline concerns but there’s no way we were that bad and they only erred once.
“We had a man sent off so we were hoping to get video footage of that to see what went on.
“We had been ahead at half-time and it was 18-18 going into the last quarter when they scored two tries to win it. Everyone was a bit down but we will dust ourselves down and go again in a fortnight when we have Drighlington at home and hope to get back to winning ways.”
