Wath Brow Hornets produced their best performance of the season to beat the National Conference Premier Division leaders Siddal 10-6 at Giel Park.
It’s been an uncharacteristic faltering start from the Hornets this season with as many defeats as victories, but this was an indication of what they are capable of.
In wet, testing conditions Hornets rose to the occasion and making ample amends for last week’s defeat at the bottom side Lock Lane, were deserving winners.
Siddal had arrived in west Cumbria on the back of nine straight wins which had propelled them to the top of the table but they found the Brow in determined and ultra-committed mood.
It was a real arm wrestle to start with and it wasn’t until the 30th minute that the Hornets went in front with a penalty from Cole Walker-Taylor. But before the break Lewis Hosty levelled for the visitors.
Some outstanding defence from both sides meant there was no further score until the 70th minute when Walker Taylor edged the Brow in front again with his second penalty.
Four minutes later Callum Farrer found a gap to go in for the crucial Hornets try which Walker-Taylor goaled and at 10-2 they were almost there.
Hosty did cross for an unconverted try right at the death but Wath Brow were through to a thoroughly deserved victory.
That Siddal defeat, and West Hull’s 42-20 win over Egremont Rangers put the Humbersiders on top but it had been a gritty effort from the west Cumbrians.
Coach Rhys Davies said: “I couldn’t have asked for any more effort than what the lads gave, especially with the under-strength squad we travelled with.
“They had a go for the full 80 minutes and certainly made a game of it.”
After conceding an early converted try Egremont came back with a try from Nathan Preston and it stayed at 6-4 until the half-hour mark. West Hull grabbed three tries in quick succession to seize the initiative and although Paul Corkhill grabbed a second Egremont try, converted by Matthew Bewsher, another West Hull try gave them a 30-10 lead at the break.
The game might have been won but Egremont battled well and in the second-half only lost 12-10 on points scored after the break. Fraser McNee and Jordan Baird scored the tries with Bewsher converting one of them.
A sin-binning for Ross Gainford on 55 minutes proved pivotal in Kells’ 34-12 home defeat to Heworth as the York visitors scored 12 unanswered points during his absence to move into a 28-12 lead.
Kells are currently operating with a taxing injury list with up to seven key players out and that has meant they are now just two points clear of the drop zone.
Coach Peter Smith said: “The game changed in the 55th minute after we had got it back to 12-12. They were attacking our line when their man was about to put the ball down when it was kicked out of his hands.
“The ref said he had scored and Ross was sent off for that challenge and allegedly said something to the ref, which really completely deflated us.”
Harry Watson and Nathan Clark had scored the tries, both converted by Gainford, which had got Kells back to 12-12.
The Cumbrian derby in League Two went the way of Ellenborough Rangers as they won a tight game at Barrow Island 26-24.
It was the Islanders sixth successive defeat and leaves them dangerously placed next to bottom of the table.
Ellenborough had started well and went into a 12-0 lead inside six minutes with tries from Jordan Ostle and John Todd, both converted by Sean Mumberson.
But the Islanders were level by the break with tries from Will Scott (15) and Carl McBain (38), both converted by Sam Jones.
Ellenborough were soon back in front on 45 minutes with an unconverted try by Rocco Okesene but the home side went in front for the first time five minutes later with a try from Dec Baines which Jones converted.
But Elbra fought back to lead 26-18 with tries from Todd (63) and Brett Stephenson (70), one of which was converted by Mumberson.
Although the Islanders scored a late try from Brad Warne three minutes from the end, converted by Jones, the visitors held on for a narrow victory.
Ellenborough coach Paul Gorge said: “I was really pleased because that’s back-to-back wins and we will be looking to keep that winning run going next week at Pilkington Recs.
“Barrow Island came back at us after we’d made a great start and they had got in front early in the second-half but we came back strongly to win it. There were a couple of things we need to work on before next week but generally I was very pleased.”
Millom were beaten 28-6 at Dewsbury Celtic after a disappointing second-half performance. They had been very much in the contest, only down 8-0 at half-time.
Five minutes into second half that lead had grown to 18-0 and although Connor Terrill scored a try for Millom, converted by Lee Postlethwaite, the hosts were still able to add two more tries for a comfortable win.
In Division Three the West Cumbrian pair of Distington and Hensingham are pulling clear at the top, opening up a handy gap to their nearest pursuers.
Leaders Distington saw off a determined challenge of third-placed Drighlington to win 28-22 while Hensingham, who remain a point behind their Cumbrian rivals, were too good for Beverley as they won their home game 36-12.
Distington were always the dominant side, never behind, but Drighlington had drawn level at 10-10 shortly before half-time.
The West Cumbrians, who had led 16-10 at half-time, finished with six tries – two of which were converted by Scott George.
Going over the Drighlington line were Scott Rooke (2), Jamie Friel, Steve Clarke, Callum Fox and George.
Coach Aiden Worthington said: “It was a good win against a team thid in the League and I thought we were very deserving winners. They scored a late try which made the score look a bit closer than it actually ws.
“From our point of view it was a good, solid performance against a good team and we played some good rugby.”
Hensingham got off to a flyer against Beverley with two tries in the first six minutes from Matthew Williams and Josh Rogerson but momentum seemed to have slowed as they only led 8-2 at the break.
However they powered clear in the second-half when there were tries from Jay Weatherill, Callum Morgan, Jack Kellett, Reuben Butterworth and Gareth Gates. Weatherill kicked four goals.
Coach Kris Coward said: “I’m absolutely buzzing with the result and the performance because we had players missing and had to bring in three Under-16’s and two veterans and they were magnificent.
“I thought we bossed the game and I really do feel we are making ourselves hard to play against. We played some good rugby and scored nice tries and defensively we really only conceded one soft try.”
