Wath Brow A didn’t have to wait long to take their revenge on local rivals Kells A when they met a week on from their last encounter.
Kells had been comfortable and deserving winners a week earlier but this time there was no doubt about the Hornets superiority as it finished 38-4.
A tight first-half did not really hint at the margin of victory in the end as Wath Brow led 12-0 at the break. But they pulled away impressively in the second-half to suggest that they will be the team to catch for the League winners crown.
The Brow tries came from Jenson Olstrom (2), Peter Caddy, Greg Rooney, Luke Spivey, Greg Dawson and Mark Watson. Olstrom (2) and Rooney kicked the goals.
Kells lone score came from an unconverted try by Dan Grears.
Paul Farrell, the Wath Brow coach said: “It was a much improved display from the previous week. There was plenty of effort again but the key factor was that we were 100% better with ball in hand.
“Some changes from last week helped with that and now we are getting players back it’s a good start to the second phase of fixtures.
“It’s going to be hard every week because all these games in the second phase will have an impact on how the final table is going to look.”
Kells coach Jonathan Wignall added: “It was a good performance from Wath Brow who pounced on our errors, both forced and unforced, and especially in our own half.
“They turned field position into points at significant moments in the game and deserved their victory.
“We were in the game at half-time and I thought with the conditions we would take control but again some errors on our behalf quickly resulted in points for them. It was a clinical performance by the Hornets and one we have to take on the chin.”
Man of the match for Wath Brow was Devan Sharp, recently returned from his England Lions exploits in the European Under-19s Championships while Kells award went to Richard Marr
The other game in the newly created Premier Division saw Maryport beat Cockermouth 34-12 but it was only 10-6 at half-time.
Both teams had key players missing and Maryport included Steve Stoddart, the veteran rugby union player who was helping them out.
He was on the score-sheet, too, with a try and also touching down for Maryport were Luke Cremins (2), Ashley Smith, Joel Baker, Craig Foster and Chris Ivison. Blake Miller kicked three goals.
For Cockermouth there were tries from Spencer Fulton and David Whitworth with Regan Tinnion kicking two goals.
Joel Baker was named man of the match for Maryport with Ryan Scott getting the nomination for Cockermouth.
Mark Foster, the Maryport coach said: “It was good to get the win against Cockermouth in really hot conditions.
“Both teams are doing it tough with injuries, unavailability and lads playing with knocks.
“I thought we were good value for the win and we had another couple of tries disallowed, while we missed two other good opportunities.
“Credit to Cockermouth for battling to the end but I asked the lads for a performance after a tough couple of losses and they delivered.
“Attention now turns to Kells at home next week who will be coming off a defeat to Wath Brow and we know that we need to improve again if we want to get the win.”
The newly formed First Division also kicked-off at the weekend but only one game was played which resulted in a 38-16 win for Distington A at Hensingham A.
The Hensingham points came from tries by Matt Williams, Ollie Dunn and Dylan Bragg with Bragg kicking two goals.
Distington won it with tries by Robbie Joe Worthington (4), Oliver Huddleston, Kyle Jenkinson and Jack Penrice. Brandon Walker kicked five goals.
Chris Crowe, the Hensingham coach said: “The game was decided in an eight-minute spell in the second half when Distington scored three tries and took the game away from us. We had been 16-14 up at half-time.
“It was a really physical and competitive game with both sides down on numbers, due to festivals and injuries. It was good, though, that under the circumstances and in ridiculous weather both clubs got out teams to play the game.”
Distington’s head coach Aiden Worthington said: “It was a really good win against a physical Hensingham side and I thought our young lads did really well.
“Robbie Joe Worthington had a great game and a new signing Kyle Jenkinson, who has joined from Whitehaven rugby union club, did enough to earn a call-up to the first team for Saturday.”
