Hensingham and Distington were the only Cumbrian clubs who managed to secure wins in the National Conference League on Saturday, and neither easily, as Cumbrian clubs clubs otherwise fell to defeat, writes Ben Challis.
In the Division Two derby, Hensingham eventually secured a 26-16 home win over a battling Ellenborough Rangers, but it wasn’t easy, and this was a much closer scoreline than many would have predicted given Elbra’s recent run of poor form in NCL Division 2.
Indeed from the opening half hour of this game which saw Adam Williamson go over for the first Hensingham try after just three minutes, followed by two more Hensingham tries from Jordan Pritt who barged in under the sticks and Miller Dalton who stormed over on the left wing, and two Williamson conversions which gave Hensingham what looked like a comfortable 16-0 lead 25 minutes in.
The momentum of the match changed when Hensingham’s Luke Charlton was sin binned for a high tackle on the half hour by referee Matty Bolton.
Elbra took full advantage of their numerical superiority, and the impressive Rocco Okesene went over for an unconverted try and a 16-4 scoreline at half time.
The second half saw a real fightback from the Rangers and two unconverted tries from Matty Bell and Joe Appleby pulled the score back to 16-12.
Hensingham regrouped and Fletcher Holgate was held up just short of the line before setting up Ben Pearce who crashed over with a crucial try converted by Williamson for a 22-12 lead for the hosts.
Elbra were not done, and Leon Ackerley touched down on the right wing to claw the scoreline back to 22-16 before Miller Dalton powered over for the hosts in the second successive try set up by the Cumbria Crack’s Gamestar Holgate, putting the game to bed with the final scoreline of 26-16.
In Division Three, Distington edged a narrow but very good 17-14 home win over second placed Bentley.
With just one first half unconverted try from Jaiden Hewer, Distington came back from 4-10 down at the break to secure the win with two more tries from Jack Penrice and Stephen Clarke, with Scott George kicking one conversion, one drop goal and a final penalty goal.
The result leaves Distington sitting in a comfortable seventh place in the table. Elsewhere in Division Three, Millom were another Cumbrian club to lose out, going down 0-28 at Leigh East at home.
In the Premier Division Wath Brow Hornets crashed to a painful 48-4 defeat away at third placed West Bowling, with the Hornet’s only points from a Luke Davison try, and with the Brow dropping from fourth to fifth in the table, leapfrogged by Waterhead Warriors who won 34-18 over Hunslet.
The Hornets face sixth placed Thatto Heath Crusaders at Giel Park on Saturday July 19.Â
In Division One, both Kells and Egremont Rangers fell to away defeats, Egremont going down 30-6 at Crosfields, and Kells 28-6 at Wigan St Patricks in a game that saw all three Chambers brothers (Clarke, Casey and Corey) as well as two Gainford Brothers (Ross and Grant), two Starkie brothers (Dan and Ryan) and two Ennis brothers (Will and James) all playing for Kells.
Kells, whose only points came from a Oscar Cook try and a Ross Gainford conversion. are now in eighth place and Egremont in ninth in the table.
On Saturday, July 19 Kells face Oulton Raiders at home and Egremont are away at Stanningley.
In Division Two Hensingham’s win solidifies their position in fifth place in the table, now four points clear of sixth placed Normanton Knights, just one behind fourth paced Clock Face Miners and six points above Barrow Island who are in seventh place after losing out 16-10 away to second to bottom Hull Dockers after making the long journey to Hull with just 14 players available.
Hensingham face Hull Dockers at home next Saturday.
Elbra’s 10th loss on the trot leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table in 12th place, although after Saturday’s excellent showing at Hensingham, surely now with renewed hope for a win in their next match against Drighilton.Â
