All three West Cumbrian sides in the National Conference Premier Division lost on Saturday – with Wath Brow’s defeat at bottom side West Bowling probably the most disappointing – and unexpected.
The Hornets had lost at Lock Lane when they were bottom of the table, so there was extra determination not to concede an unwanted double.
But the Bradford side came through to win 22-18 in a game where the lead changed hands seven times – and it ended a run of five successive defeats.
The Hornets were leading 18-16 after 69 minutes when the home side scored what proved to be the winning points with a converted try.
The Cumbrians had led 12-10 at half-time through tries from Cole Walker-Taylor and Dean Rooney, both converted by Walker-Taylor.
But all Wath Brow could find in the second-half was a try from Josh McConnell, converted by Walker-Taylor and they slipped to a fourth defeat in five games – the one highlight being a win over leaders Siddal.
That win for West Bowling didn’t take them off the bottom as their rivals at the bottom, Lock Lane, also won – beating Egremont 34-10 – their third win in four games.
It was only 14-10 at half-time but the Castleford side pulled away in the second-half to win comfortably.
All the Egremont points came from Matt Bewsher with two tries and a conversion.
Egremont coach Rhys Davies said: “We are doing it tough at the minute, travelling with only 16 players so we knew it was going to be a hard day.
“At half-time, trailing just 14-10, we were in the game but ultimately we ran out of steam. Injuries have plagued our season and we lost our skipper Kieran Glen with a broken arm early in the game which made it even harder.”
Kells faced a tough trip to champions Hunslet ARLFC and recent form suggested they would be in for a hard time of it but after an hour they were still very much in the contest, all square at 26-26. However, the hosts found that little bit extra to score two tries, converting one to win 36-26 in the last quarter.
Nathan Clarke, Dominic Wear, Harry Watson and Ryan Starkie scored the Kells tries and Ross Gainford converted them all, also adding a penalty.
It had been a good recovery because it looked ominous early on as Hunslet raced into a 14-0 lead inside 15 minutes.
Coach Peter Smith said: “We went against everything we talked about in the first 20 minutes and then we got a foothold in the game and pushed Hunslet close.
“We move on to York Acorn at home this week in what will be another tough game.”
It’s getting tight down the bottom with just four points separating Wath Brow in sixth from Lock Lane who are next to bottom and both Egremont and Kells stuck in between them with three others.
In Division Two the game at Millom ended midway through the first-half when visitors Normanton Knights were reduced to just nine men, and not all of them fully fit.
They had travelled to south Cumbria with just eleven players as a wedding, holidays, work commitments and injuries had drastically reduced their squad.
Sportingly they decided to travel despite being depleted but the referee had to call a halt when two injuries reduced them to nine, and that included some walking wounded. Millom were ahead 18-0 at the time having scored three converted tries through Kyle Evans, Connor Terrill and Niall Harris. Lee Postlethwaite added the extras.
Ellenborough were bitterly disappointed to lose their unbeaten home record as they went under 32-30 to Saddleworth Rangers after conceding two very late tries.
With two minutes left Elbra led 30-20 and the points looked to be in the bag but the visitors snatched back-to-back converted tries to win it.
Earlier Ellenborough had set-up their lead with tries from Andy Ostle, John Todd, Kevin Hoban, Matty Bell and Jordan Ostle all converted by Sean Mumberson.
Barrow Island continue to struggle in the drop zone and would be disappointed to go down 26-18 at bottom side Myton Warriors.
It was the home side’s first win in ten games and the Islanders were punished for a poor first half. They trailed 22-0 at the break and after an hour the Warriors had increased that to 26-0.
The south Cumbrians did rally with three tries from Sam Jones, Ian Irvine and Brad Warne, all converted by Jones but it wasn’t enough as Myton held on for their second win of the season.
In the Third Division leaders Distington were made to work, every bit as much as coach Aiden Worthington expected, by bottom side Featherstone Lions.
They fell behind to an early converted try but came back to lead 10-6 at the break with tries from Jack Penrice and Scott Rooke, one of which was converted by Callum Fox.
James Motum scored their third try on 59 minutes, converted by Fox, before the Lions scored their second try, which was unconverted.
But any thoughts of a Distington slip-up were removed when Kelvin Lynch scored the clinching try on 68 minutes, converted by Fox for a 22-10 win.
Coach Worthington said: “I’d warned the lads beforehand that it wasn’t going to be easy even though they haven’t won a game. They were a big, physical side but our young lads coped with it well and we got another win on the road which was very pleasing.”
Staying in Distington’s slipstream are Hensingham after their 44-12 home win over Bentley kept them a point behind the leaders.
It was 22-0 at the break after Scott Egan, Callum Morgan, Reuben Butterworth and Adam Williamson, three of which were converted by Williamson.
They doubled that tally in the second half with tries from Josh Rogerson, Williamson, Butterworth and Luke Charlton, plus three more conversions by Williamson.
Hensingham coach Kris Coward said: “This week-end the focus was on our Under-18s in the BARLA National final so none were included. It meant that we had to call on three senior players including 42-year-old Dean Bragg, with Gareth Gates and Dave Cartmell.
“They came in and did well and although we left some tries out there, it was another good win. There are still one or two issues to iron out, particularly with discipline, but overall I was pleased.
“We are coming to a big month now with three important League games against the teams below us and as a club we also have the Amateur Cup final to look forward to which involves our A team.”
At Seaton, it wasn’t all about the game with Drighlington, as it was the club’s charity day raising funds for Young Archie Routledge and the Sick Children’s Trust. The club raised a brilliant total of £5,600 and at the after-match auction all the special Newcastle United themed shirts worn by the players, were on offer with Andy McGlasson’s making the most at £500.
On the field Seaton lost 12-8 but are definitely heading in the right direction, even with just one win to their name so far.
They led 8-6 at half-time after centre Lewis Mason’s sixth minute try was followed on 38 minutes by a second by Grant Bethwaite. Crucially neither were converted.
Drighlington had scored in between with a converted try and a second, five minutes into the second half, again converted proved to be the winning score.
Seaton coach Gus Frazer said: “I was actually very proud of the lads because they had a really good go against a strong side.
“We played with 12 men for about 50 minutes after we had a player sent-off, and that was really baffling. We had a lad taken out by an after the ball challenge and players from both sides piled in with punches thrown. But the lad who got singled-out and red-carded hadn’t done anything.
“But down to 12 they defended really well, it was just when we had the ball that made it a hard watch. I think we must have dropped it six or seven times in good positions on first or second tackle.
“Overall though it was a good day for a worthy cause and hearing afterwards what young Archie and the family have been through put the rugby into perspective. A lot of money was raised which was great.”
