Distington produced a very good performance at Millom to register a 34-16 win in the Cumbria Conference.
They had travelled with half of their 36 registered players unavailable through various reasons.
But a man of the match performance from Scott George, the player that coach Ryan Hodgson believes is the best half-back in the league, guided them to victory.
Millom coach Brad Crellin, who also appreciated the skill of George, accepted the best team had won on the day and admitted to being frustrated at his own side’s persistence in making errors.
The Distington tries came from Callum Fox (2), Robbie Joe Worthington, Bailey Worthington, Anthony Riddle and Kelvin Lynch. Scott George landed three goals.
For Millom there were tries from Oliver Thompson, Jude Lupton and Daniel Hartley, Jackson Evans converted two while Dom O’Brien was man of the match.
You can hear Millom coach Brad Crellin below with his thoughts on the game below:
There’s also an extended conversation with Distington coach Ryan Hodgson and Cumbria Crack’s John Walsh on the game and also how the Distington club is faring in the new set-up.
Dalton continue to set the pace at the top, maintaining their 100% record with a 46-10 home win over Ulverston.
Dalton coach Paul Armstrong said: “After the two-week break, kick-off time rearrangements and a number of personnel changes throughout the back end of the week, we started the game a bit laboured in a scrappy first half.
“Credit to Ulverston, they started the stronger side and after some poor discipline and handling errors by us they made some repeat sets on our line count to go in for a try in the corner on around 10 minutes.”
Dalton responded pretty quickly and a break by centre Niall Maudsley caught Ulverston on the retreat with a good wide ball out to scrum half Harry Gordon who found winger Callum Leach for the first score.
The home side got themselves in front when Gordon went through a gap to find Isaac Barber in support to score under the sticks for 10-6.
However even Dalton admitted that Ulverston’s disallowed try just before half-time was for an debatable obstruction.
Dalton made a couple of changes at half and were generally well on top as Ulverston started to tire and added 32 unanswered points.
The Dalton tries came from Tom Farren (2), Isaac Maclean (2), Ross Bird, Dan Knott, Callum Leach and man of the match Isaac Barber. Bird kicked seven goals from eight attempts.
Ulverston coach Marc Storey said: “I am proud of the team’s effort as we were missing a lot of key players and were against the top of the league away from home.
“In the first-half it was great to see us competing toe to toe with Daltom, completing our sets well and even taking the lead.
“Dalton got back in the game, scoring two tries and then we had a try disallowed, wrongly we felt, on the stroke of half-time which would have topped a great half.
“In the second half, I’m afraid we ran out of steam, losing our bench early doors, and Dalton ran out worthy winners in the end.
“But moving forward we can take a lot of confidence from that first-half effort.
“Big mentions to Brad Williamson, leading the side round the park and young Isaac Tizzard in his second game for the club never took a backward step all game.
“Captain for the day Evan Foster produced one of his best games in an Ulverston shirt.”
Williamson and Warren Bolton scored the Ulverston tries with a conversion from Alex Grimshaw.
In the big clash between last season’s old Cumberland ARL rivals Maryport and Seaton at the Athletic Ground it was the hosts who completed a double with their 47-22 victory.
The Maryport tries came from man of the match full-back Liam Anderson (2), Lewis Walling (2), Lewis Moore, Luke Baker, Jack Shepherd and Attlee Skillen. Moore landed seven goals and a drop.
Ben Postlethwaite, Kieran Robinson, Brandon Walker and Jon Carl Bryan scored the Seaton tries with Robinson converting three.
Jack Morgan was awarded their man of the match.
You can hear the views of Maryport coach Mark Foster below:
Hensingham were comfortable 72-10 winners against Hindpool Tigers.
The game was virtually over at half-time by which time Hensingham had built a 48-6 lead, scoring tries at regular intervals.
Hindpool had levelled at 6-6 but from that point Hensingham ran away with the game.
First-half tries came from Lucas Roper (2), Jay Weatherill (2), Koby Conway, Jordan Thomson, Fletcher Holgate and Noel Branthwaite all converted by Dylan Bragg.
At the start of the second half Bragg scored a try and added the conversion before Hindpool scored their second try.
Holgate then went on to complete his hat-trick of tries with two more while Thomson went in for his second.
Hensingham finished with 12 tries, all converted by Bragg.
The Hindpool tries were scored by Ryan Kyte and Cameron McDermott, with man of the match Sam Beattie adding a conversion.
Hindpool coach Kevin Kyte said: “We played well in short spells with a weakened team but our last few results are a prime example of how far wrong the RFL have got it with making us play in this League.
“We were completely outclassed in all areas by a quality Hensingham team who deserve all the plaudits.”
Andrew Smith, the Hensingham coach, reflects on the win below:
The other Cumbria Conference game was a high-scoring affair in which Barrow Island beat visitors Ellenborough Rangers 44-34.
Jamie Curtis, the Barrow Island coach said: “It was probably our worst defensive display of the season but we managed to keep ourselves in front by scoring some outstanding tries.
“Credit to Elbra their middles caused us real trouble all game.
“We’ve won eight on the bounce now in all competitions and I’m really pleased with this latest win.”
The Islander tries came from Ellis Archer (2), Ryan Wilson (2), Max Anderson-Moore, Ollie Holmes and Ben Garner. Archer kicked six goals.
It had been 28-22 at half-time and later Elbra closed to within four points at 38-34.
Man of the match Rocco Okesene scored a try and kicked five goals with the other Elbra tries from Daniel Penman (3), Gary Tierney and Kai Gilhespy.
Elbra coach Paul Gorge gives his thoughts on the game below:
