Several Cumbrian clubs suffered setbacks in the latest round of National Conference matches.
Defeats for Kells and Egremont pushed them nearer the Premier Division trap door; Millom are in danger of a quick return to Division Three while Distington missed their chance to go top of the fourth tier.
Kells faced a tough test at West Hull and so it proved as the west Cumbrians went down 42-0 on Humberside.
It was going well in the first-half with England Community Lions tourist Dominic Wear leading them round the park but two converted tries in the last six minutes put the hosts in charge.
West Hull scored again early in the second half and the effort took it’s toll on the 16 men of Kells in the final quarter when there was a flurry of points.
Egremont’s best performance of the season was a 22-0 home win over champions Hunslet ARLFC earlier in the season. But injuries have taken their toll since then and the slide to the bottom saw them beaten 46-4 in the return.
That defeat virtually condemns the Rangers to relegation and a return to Division One.
Cian Sharp scored the Egremont try after they had trailed 34-0 at the break.
Wath Brow produced a stirring fight-back to beat Thatto Heath 20-16 at Giel Park after they has trailed 16-0 at the break.
Fran King and Callum Farrer had got them moving with tries early in the second half, one of them converted by Sam Curwen.
Morgan McCourt crossed on 70 minutes to cut the deficit to two points and four minutes from time Farrer went over for his second try to put the Hornets ahead, with Curwen also adding the conversion.
It means Wath Brow will finish in fifth place in the play offs.
In Division Two Barrow Island and Millom both lost and are fighting against the drop – level on 12 points although the Woollybacks have a game in hand. Saddleworth Rangers split them in the table also with 12 points.
Millom were beaten 38-24 at Saddleworth and the Rangers went above the south Cumbrians on points differential.
Millom made a poor start and were 18-0 behind inside 25 minutes and early in the second half that home lead had been extended to 32-6.
Millom did stage something of a rally in the final quarter but they had left themselves too much to do.
Kyle Evans, Tom Ashen, Jackson Evans, Kian McPherson (on dual registration from Workington) and Rio McQuiston-Wilson scored the Millom tries and Jack Newbegin kicked two goals.
Millom will play their game in hand on Saturday when they host fourth in the table Normanton Knights.
A poor first-half cost Barrow Island at home to second-placed Wigan St Jude’s as they faced a 30-0 deficit.
They did recover, despite having John McBain dismissed for an alleged high tackle on 53 minutes, and it finished 30-18 – but the damage had been done.
Aiden Wright, Carl McBain and Nathan Sneesby scored the tries all converted by Sam Jones.
Ellenborough moved three points clear of their Cumbrian neighbours to take a firm step nearer safety when they beat bottom side Myton Warriors 42-4.
The visitors only came with 16 players and did not score their sole try until the last quarter by which time Elbra were 36-0 in front.
Kevin Hoban (2), John Todd (2), Kai Gilhespy, Zac Olstrum, Rocco Okesene and Jordan Ostle scored the tries. Okesene (4) and Keenan Winter kicked the goals.
In Division Three Distington could have gone back on top if they had won their game in hand at Leigh East – but they were beaten heavily 44-6.
Jamie Friel scored the Distington try, converted by Scott George.
Coach Aiden Worthington said: “It’s been coming to be honest. We were lucky to get a draw at Milford and we have been travelling light in recent weeks.
“We had seven or eight teenagers in the team on Saturday and some of our experienced players haven’t been travelling. We could have been champions by now but we will just have ton see how we go in the last two games.”
In the Cumbrian derby Hensingham beat Seaton 38-0 to consolidate third spot.
Jay Weatherill led the way with two tries and five goals with the other tries coming from Jamie Brown, Fletcher Holgate, Jack Kellett, Noel Branthwaite and Logan McAvoy.
Hensingham coach Kris Coward said: “Credit to Seaton. They are doing it tough at the moment but they came and had a good dig.
“From our part it was good to get back into winning ways and without conceding. I thought the game was scrappy in the main but we did manage to play some nice rugby at times, although we bombed three or four tries.
“We now have a fortnight with four good training sessions to prepare for the big game against Distington which will probably decide who goes up automatically and who has to go into the play-offs.”
Seaton coach Gus Frazer said: “We got 16 players in the end as another of the older lads who used to play put his hand up.
“There wasn’t a lot between us at half-time, it was only 12-0 but with no changes for the middles on the bench we tired at the back end and Hensingham pulled away.”
