Wath Brow Hornets look as though they will finish fifth or sixth in the National Conference Premier Division.
So next week’s clash at York Acorn could be pivotal as the Cumbrians are currently fifth one place better off than Acorn and with two more points.
The Brow consolidated fifth place with a 28-18 home win over much-improved Klock Lane.
Ater conceding the first try, Ian Rooney’s men hit back to lead 16-6 at the break with tries from Josh McConnell, Jake Moore and Dean Rooney, two of which were converted by Cole Walker-Taylor.
A determined effort after the break saw two more tries added by Moore and Morgan McCourt, this time converted by Sam Curwen.
That was good enough to wrap up the points and two converted tries in the last five minutes were more a statistical note than a game-changer.
If the Hornets can look forward to play-off action, their Cumbrian neighbours are both in relegation battles.
Egremont are bottom, although only two points off safety, but badly beaten 70-10 at home by Rochdale Mayfield.
Rangers have been badly hit by injuries and were only able to field 16 players for this one and it was all over at half-time with Mayfield 40 points to the good.
Egremont did score first in the second-half with a try by Brad Long which Matthy Bewsher converted.
But the score had grown to 58-6 before they scored again and it was Seamus Hutton who went in for an unconverted try.
Egremont coach Rhys Davies said: “We are struggling big style and I’m just happy we are scraping a side together to fulfil our fixtures.”
Kells have been dragged into the fight to avoid the drop after another defeat. They went down 36-16 at home to West Bowling who are making a big charge to get out of the bottom three.
Peter Smith, the Kells coach said: “We gave away the ball from the kick-off and tried an off-load in our own ten on first tackle and they scored from that.
“It was just littered with poor decisions by us and then we were chasing the game, so everything was just panic.
“Again the lads showed loads of effort but got the wrong scoreline.”
Mason Lewthwaite, Harry Watson and Karl Garner scored the Kells tries with Watson popping over two conversions.
In Division Two Ellenborough are being dragged into a relegation battle although they have three points in hand going into the last four games.
Two tries in the last three minutes gave leaders Shaw Cross Sharks a 38-28 victory which had seemed unlikely a little earlier.
The home side had recovered from being 26-12 behind to lead 28-26 with twelve minutes left on the clock.
Coach Paul Gorge said: “We played really well and had fought back to lead but couldn’t see it through. The final scoreline wasn’t a fair reflection.
“We just can’t buy a win at the moment because I thought we matched them in forwards and backs, and it was just a little mistake that let them in for the crucial try. They then went and scored another a minute later which doesn’t really represent how well we played.
“We have four games left and the aim is obviously to try and stay in this Division.”
The Ellenborough tries were scored by Kevin Hoban, Andrew Ostle, Jordan Ostle, John Todd and Gary Taylor. There were two goals apiece for Brett Stevenson and Sean Mumberson.
Elbra’s two Cumbrian neighbours Millom and Barrow Island are also heavily involved in a fight to stay in Division Two,’
Millom were well beaten 52-10 at Oldham St Anne’s in another game in which it was all over at half-time.
St Anne’s led 30-0 at the break and that had grown to 40-0 before Lee Postlethwaite scored a try and added the conversion.
The home side had passed fifty before Kian McPherson added a second try for the Woollybacks.
McPherson is on dual registration from Workington, coming back from ankle surgery and getting some games under his belt before a possible run-out for Town before the end of the season.
Barrow Island had only 13 men for their game at Normanton Knights and it was a good effort against a side in play-off contention that they only went down 32-20.
In fact they won the second half as they went in at half-time 20-4 down.
The Islanders scored tries through Corey Barker (2), Sam Jones and Nathan Sneesby. Jones kicked two goals.
With Seaton Rangers unable to travel to Featherstone Lions and Distington on a free week, Hensingham were the only Cumbrians in Division Three action.
It was a disappointing 12-12 home draw with lowly Milford, although the visitors had drawn with Distington 11-11 a week earlier.
Chris Crowe, second team coach who was in charge said: “It was a game where I thought we just didn’t execute our chances.
“A dropped ball, a forward pass and wrong options meant we blew five or six real try-scoring opportunities.
“Milford stayed in the game and after defending brilliantly throughout, a slight switch-off by us near the end let in a try which was the leveller.
“The lads were devastated afterwards as they had put so much work in defensively all game it felt soft to concede the way they did.
“But for a young side it’s a good lesson to learn that if you don’t take chances you will get punished.”
Jay Weatherill, Dan McGarry and Reuben Butterworth scored the Hensingham tries with the Milford leveller, a try and conversion coming eight minutes from the end.
