It’s unfortunately safe to say that the BARLA National Cup is not the competition it once was.
There was an attempt this season to boost the competition but it has been blighted by a large number of walk-overs.
Three Cumbrian clubs – Hensingham, Millom and Ellenborough – had to pull out of Saturday’s first round because of a shortage of players due to injuries, holidays, work commitments or family duties on a bank holiday weekend.
It left Barrow Island and Distington to contest their first round games, at home respectively to Hunslet ARLFC and Woolston Rovers.
It proved a fine afternoon for the Islanders who beat their National League Premier Division opponents 13-12.
It went to extra time and a golden point decider, provided by Ellis Archer with a field goal.
Trent Ruddy scored both tries which were converted by Archer.
Distington had been 10-0 down against Woolston but came back level with tries by Callum Fox and Kelvin Lynch and a conversion by Kieran Worthington.
However Woolston then pulled clear to win 26-10.
In the Cumbria Men’s League the weekend action was concentrated on the County Cup.
Egremont A, who have been going well, crashed 42-6 at Aspatria.
The Hornets produced a super performance to secure a top four place in the Cup.
They showed their intentions from the start when scrum half Frazer Williamson threw a long cut out pass for full back Ellis Holliday to race onto and show a clean pair of heels to score under the posts.
Further tries followed in the first half through Francis Dixon, Williamson and Ben Tootill. Egremont scored on 38 minutes when Dillon Scott crashed over to cut the half time deficit to 22-6.
The Hornets scored four more tries in the second half, with Dixon bagging two more to complete his hat-trick, Guy Reed and Holliday who scored his second try of the day.
Man of the match Ben Tootill added four conversions with James Robinson slotting over one for the 42-6 win.
The Aspatria coaching staff would be delighted with the overall performance of everyone in black and amber.
Hensingham A were 34-22 winners at Millom A.
It represented a good comeback after Hensingham had raced into a 34-0 lead.
Their tries had come from Cohen Massey, Jaylen Conway (2), Rylan Templeton, Theo Crowe and Miller Wood. Templeton converted five out of six.
Rio Walker, Daniel Hartley (2) and Ollie Dilks scored tries, three of which were converted by Callum Lamont.
Kells A defeated Cockermouth 36-12 with tries by Jacob Hodgson (4), James Ennis, Tyce Walmsley, Kieran Halcrow and Nathan Clark. Ryan Wood kicked two goals.
For Cockermouth there were tries by coach Liam McAvoy and Jude Starkie with two goals from Regan Tinnion.
In the local derby Maryport A won 32-24 at home to Glasson Rangers.
The game went right to the death with Maryport sealing the game by scoring four minutes from time.
It was another much improved performance by Glasson who stayed in the game for long periods and the effort was first class.
If they can continue that sort of commitment into the rest of the season they will soon start to pick up wins.
Man of the match Scott Faulkner and Shane Williams scored their first-half tries, both converted by Luke Johnson.
John Dollochin went over in the second half with Keelan Morris converting and when Faulkner scored again 12 minutes from the end, with Morris converting Glasson had edged back to 26-24.
Charlie Bowman (2), Craig Foster, Bobby Bell, Lewis Walling and Connor Mottley scored the Maryport tries with Walling converting four.
