Egremont stunned the amateur rugby league fraternity with a superb display to beat champions Hunslet ARLFC at Gillfoot.
It was the result of the season on the National Conference Premier Division as Rhys Davies’ men not only beat them but nilled them 22-0.
An immensely proud coach Davies said: “What a performance we produced. I’d go as far as to say it’s the best defensive effort I’ve ever seen.
“To be starved of possession and to have them camped on our line for 20 minutes, withstanding everything they threw at us, I think demoralised them.
“Once we got a foothold into the game I thought we outshone them. We speak about working for each other like a pack of dogs and that’s what we did.
“To nil the reigning champions, which won’t happen often, has shown how good we can be on our day.”
Egremont had taken the lead after 23 minutes when John Paul Brocklebank got over for a try which Matt Bewsher converted.
Ten minutes later Paul Corkhill added the second try, again converted by Bewsher and there was still time for Leon Crellin to score the third try for an interval lead of 16-0.
It stayed the same until the final quarter when Brocklebank scored his second try which was converted by Bewsher.
Heworth must be sick of Cumbrian opponents after they were pipped 18-16 by Wath Brow Hornets.
A week earlier Kells had grabbed a late 11-10 victory with a drop goal. The Hornets swooped even later to snatch the victory two minutes from time with a try from Morgan McCourt.
Wath Brow had trailed 10-0 but fought back well and it was anybody’s game going into the last quarter at 12-12.
Cole Walker-Taylor landed a penalty to put the Hornets ahead but it looked as though Heworth had salvaged it with an unconverted try. But Wath Brow battled back to win a tight encounter with McCourt’s late effort.
Earlier Josh McConnell and Clark Riley had scored tries with Walker-Taylor finishing with three goals.
It’s been a Cumbrian nightmare for Heworth, who by a fixture quirk, now face Egremont at home on Saturday.
Kells suffered a disappointing 26-14 defeat at West Bowling after trailing 10-4 at the break. That was extended to 22-4 midway through the second-half.
Ryan Starkie, Ashton Sice and Dom Wear scored the Kells tries with Wear adding a conversion.
Kells coach Peter Smith said: “We didn’t back-up what we had done the week earlier and let in three poor tries. At this level that hurts you and we were then chasing the game with the clock and the scoreboard against us.
“But we have to move on and that means a home game with Thatto Heath on Saturday.”
In Division Two Millom and Barrow Island were both beaten on their travels, while Ellenborough snatched a draw at Myton with a last minute try.
On paper Millom had the toughest test away to Normanton Knights and so it proved, made even worse by the fact they travelled with just two substitutes, which told in a 50-10 defeat.
Millom had actually scored first with a try by Aiden Wilson but they were 24-4 adrift at the break.
It moved to 30-4 before Josh Blinkhorn scored Millom’s second try, converted by Wilson, but it was one way traffic in the closing quarter.
Barrow Island would be kicking themselves after their 32-24 defeat at Thornhill Trojans as they had started really well to build an 18-0 lead.
By half-time the Trojans were level, and although the Islanders re-gained the lead at 24-18, it was Thornhill who finished the stronger to win it. The south Cumbrians couldn’t turn it round even when the Trojans had Joel Gibson yellow-carded on 74 minutes for a high tackle.
Perry Singleton, on dual registration from Whitehaven, was on the score-sheet with a try for the Islanders with Finley Dutton-Rosconie, Sam Jones and Adam Ford also crossing. Jones landed four goals.
Ellenborough were looking for their first away win when they travelled to Myton Warriors and could have had it after snatching a late try to level the scores at 28-28 but Keenan Winter’s conversion effort was off target.
It was a topsy-turvy game with the lead changing hands six times. At half-time Elbra led 12-10 and were then 22-12 down before coming back to lead 24-22. In a torrid finish they were left chasing the game late on after Myton had scored a converted try to lead again.
Ben Robinson was the saviour with the last gasp try with the other touchdowns coming from Zac Olstrom (2), Winter and Jordan Ostle. Winter landed four goals.
Distington lead the way in Division Three from Hensingham after both had very good victories.
East Leeds arrived at Distington unbeaten and only prevented from sharing the table lead because of points deductions carried over from last season.
It was a real arm wrestle in the first-half and they were locked at 4-4 when half-time arrived.
Distington, however, proved the stronger in the second-half as they ran out 17-10 winners and are now clear leaders.
Scott George, Gavin Martin and Jamie Friel scored the Distington tries with George landing two goals and a field goal.
Coach Aiden Worthington said: “I knew it would be right but we stuck to our game plan, working hard for repeat sets, to build pressure and to make them work hard to get out of their own end.
“There were some big performances from our lads – to name two, Scott George and Jamie Frield were absolutely unbelievable.”
Hensingham’s improvement continued when they accounted for second-placed Drighlington 26-0 and Kris Coward’s side are now the closest to leaders Distington, two points adrift.
Jay Weatherill (2), Adam Williamson, Dan McGarry and Fletcher Holgate scored the Hensingham tries with Weatherill landing three goals.
Hensingham coach Kris Coward said: “It was very pleasing, especially the defence. They were quite physical and threw a lot at us, particularly down the left edge but we defended really well.
“We were scoring good tries as well, yet there was the determination there to keep them to nil.
“I’m just waiting for a dry day to play our rugby. We trained all week in dry conditions and then on game day it poured down.”
Seaton Rangers took a scratch side to Bentley and were well beaten 62-12. It was 28-0 at half time and had risen to 40-0 before Mark Surtees and Louis Mason went over for tries, both converted by Ellis Nixon.
Coach Gus Frazer said: “I can’t thank the lads enough for turning out on a week-end when we were very short. Three 40-year-olds turned out for us and there was one lad at prop who hadn’t played for two years, yet he never once looked at the touchline suggesting he’d had enough as he did an hour.
“I have well over 20 available for this Saturday so that’s a lot better and hopefully we can get that first win of the season.”
