The new-look regional Cumbria Conference League again threw up some close and exciting contests at the weekend.
Tightest of them all was at Distington where a last-minute try pulled Seaton level and a touchline conversion from young Coby Walker won it at 20-18.
Seaton had done well enough in the early part of the game, scoring two unconverted tries to lead 8-0.
Distington mounted pressure and dominated territory for long periods but could only manage a converted try.
Lewis Mason and Brandon Walker had scored the tries for Seaton with Jaiden Hewer scoring a try and conversion for Distington in the first-half.
Seaton had been handicapped by injuries to two players which left them with only two subs and they also had two men in the sin-bin.
But when down to 11 they only conceded the one try, scored by Alfie Penaluna and converted by Hewer.
A third Distington try Keiran Worthington, converted by Hewer saw a Seaton response of a a try from Jaiden Tallentire, converted by Walker.
That left Distington ahead 18-14 going into the closing stages.
It all rested on virtually the last play of the game when, from a scrum Seaton worked the ball wide for Mason to score in the corner.
It really was a pressure kick for young Walker but for the second time he nailed a touchline conversion and Seaton had opened their account for the season.
You can hear below what coach Neil Frazer thought of the Seaton performance:
Hensingham look strong this season and they scored their second win with a commanding second-half performance in a 44-8 home win over Ellenborough.
They had led 14-4 at half-time but pulled away after the break to win with plenty in hand.
Rylan Templeton had opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a try which was converted by Dylan Bragg.
Jackson Smith, on dual registration from Whitehaven following his recent switch to the pro ranks, scored the second after 19 minutes and four minutes later Daniel McGarry cross to make it 14-0.
Ellenborough gave themselves hope after 28 minutes when Jonty Hill scored an unconverted try.
But those hopes quickly disappeared as Hensingham scored two tries in the first five minutes of the second-half.
Logan McAvoy and Cohen Massey went over with Bragg converting the second.
When Massey scored his second try on 61 minutes the lead had grown to 28-4 and at that point Ellenborough scored their second unconverted try, this time from John Todd.
It was all Hensingham after that and in the closing 11 minutes they added tries from Corby Rickerby, Massey for his hat-trick and Bragg. Miller Dalton converted two.
Fletcher Holgate was named Hensingham’s man of the match while Rocco Okesene took the award for Ellenborough.
You can hear below what Hensingham coach Andrew Smith thought of the game and his side’s start to the season
Maryport ended last season as the final champions of the Cumberland Amateur RL and just a little apprehensive of their step up to Cumbria Conference level.
So far so good, though, as they made it two wins from the opening two games, successful 26-14 at Ulverston.
Going into the last quarter, however, Maryport trailed 14-10 and needed a big finish to collect the victory.
They drew level with a superb 80 metre individual try from their man of the match Danny Dryden who had moved from wing to full-back.
Then two tries in the last ten minutes by loose forward Ellis Nixon and scrum-half Keenan Winter, both converted by stand-off Sean Mumberson won them the game.
At the start of the game Maryport had built lots of pressure but some outstanding goal-line defence had kept them out.
In fact it was Ulverston who went in front with an unconverted try before inter-change prop Luke Baker crashed over for a Maryport try, converted by Mumberson and an interval lead of 6-4.
Maryport extended their lead early in the second-half when second-rower Joel Baker crossed out wide for am unconverted try.
Ulverston, with former Workington back Johnny Hutton dangerous from full-back, hit back when he crossed for an unconverted try.
Soon afterwards the South Cumbrians went in front after a kick through near the line was pounced upon and the conversion made it 14-10.
That sparked Maryport’s late surge for victory.
There were two South Cumbrian derby clashes and both were fairly close with Dalton beating Barrow Island 26-18 while Hindpool Tigers, all square at half-time, came through to beat Millom 34-28.
Dalton, with Joe Crarey starring as man of the match, scored tries through Elliot Bibby (2), Harry Gordon, Conor Grant and Tom Sharpe. Ross Bird (2) and Pat Kelly landed conversions.
Finn Dutton was man of the match for Barrow Island and he scored a try and kicked three goals. The other tries were scored by Will Scott and Aidan Wright.
