In the Cumbria Conference’s closest game on Saturday the two participants couldn’t be separated.
Hensingham and Maryport drew 22-22, which was as the score suggests a very hard-fought draw and probably a fair result in the end.
Young Tyler Chilton opened the scoring for Maryport just one minute in with an unconverted try, and despite repeated Hensingham efforts to get on the scoreboard the Maryport defence held firm.
In fact it was the visitors who then added a second try from Jack Shepherd with Lewis Moore adding an excellent conversion.
It was Fletcher Holgate who got Hensingham back in the game with a try, well converted by Noel Branthwaite in the blustery wind, and Hensingham drew level when Beau Hyslop darted through the Maryport defence for 10-10 at half time.
Maryport then re-took the lead with a Liam Anderson try, and another excellent conversion from Moore.
Then repeated pressure finally paid off with two quick scores from Hensingham, as Luke Charlton crashed over and then Miller Dalton dived in, with two more Branthwaite conversions, for a 22-16 lead.
Maryport were not done and a fourth try from Luke Baker, converted by Moore, left the scores level with eight minutes left on the clock. Each side had late drop goal attempts and both missed, to leave them with a point apiece from the game.
You can hear below what Maryport coach Mark Foster thought of his side’s performance:
The big game in the south of the county saw leaders Dalton produce another top performance to win 42-12 at Barrow Island.
Dalton coach Paul Armstrong said: “I was really, really pleased with the performance against a very strong Barrow Island side.
“We knew it would be tough in front of a big crowd on John Jefferson’s 80th birthday celebrations but I thought we controlled the game really well and the full 1-17 all turned up for each other.”
Barrow Island coach Jamie Curtis added: “I’m obviously disappointed to lose such a big game, especially by that score but I thought Dalton were good for it.
“They completed higher than us, defended with more intent and the best team won.
“That performance was not us though and we will be back!”
Dalton had got off to a great start after a Harry Gordon half break saw him hauled down just short of Island’s line for Ross Bird to dive over from the play of the ball.
Island responded pretty quickly though with a powerful drive from close range from Carl McBain, converted by Ellis Archer.
Good running from the Dalton pack in the middle led to the next try with Cavan Armstrong and Gordon linking up to find young back rower Ryu McDermott with a short ball at the line.
Gordon created the next try when he picked out Ben Ashburner on a neat line to crash over, beating two defenders.
Island responded again though and a couple of repeat sets followed by a quick ruck saw Trent Ruddy force his way through from hooker. Archer converted again.
But Dalton reacted positively from then on and after a loose pass was gathered smartly by Ross Bird, it was Gordon who dummied and then went through to score untouched for a 20-12 half time lead.
Dalton coach Armstrong talked about lifting their tempo in the second half and it quickly paid off.
Good work down the right edge from centre Niall Maudsley saw play switched to the left where Tom Farren drew a couple of defenders before finding youngster Rio York who outpaced the Island defence to score in the corner.
More good forward play from Isaac Barber and Ioan Hayes put Dalton in good field position and quick hands from Maclean and Gordon saw prop Tom Sharpe shimmy his way over under the sticks.
Tidy handling led to the next try with the ball going through hands to Farren to run at the Island retreating defence before releasing York out wide on the left and he came back inside to find Ashburner pushing through in support to touch down next to the posts.
Another good push around the ruck saw Bird break the line to tip on for Armstrong who cruised in from 20 metres and round off the scoring at 12-42.
Bird finished with four conversions and Jordan Jones landed one.
In the other all-south Cumbria contest Millom were too strong for hosts Ulverston and won 50-6.
It was 24-6 at half-time with the Woollybacks tries from Josh Blinkhorn (2), just released by Whitehaven, Jude Lupton (2) and Hayden Jackson. Jackson Evans converted two.
In the second-half Blinkhorn went on to score two more; Lupton completed his hat-trick and there were further tries by Daniel Hartley and Hadley Thompson. Evans added three more conversions.
Josh Rankin scored the Ulverston try, converted by Alex Grimshaw.
You can hear below what Millom coach Brad Crellin thought of his side’s performance:
With Seaton v Distington postponed due to the village carnival the only other Conference game was at Ellenborough where the Rangers were too strong for Hindpool Tigers, winning 72-16.
Hindpool coach Kevin Kyte said: “We travelled with a weakened 15, with four carrying knocks and by half-time we had lost our bench due to further injuries.
“For the first ten minutes we were the stronger team and came closest to scoring but a couple of breakaway tries and then constant defending took its toll.
“We had a very tired bunch of lads but we kept pressing all the way and scored some quality tries.
“It wasn’t about the score this week and more about getting the team bond/unity back together and we felt a lot like that was coming back.
“We take nothing away from Ellenborough who played some great rugby but it will be nice to get some players back to help challenge teams more than we have been doing.”
Rocco Scarpone, Kori Hayes and Cameron McDermott scored the Hindpool tries with Ryan Kyte converting two.
It was 36-12 by the break with those first-half tries for Ellenborough from Niall Gray (2), Ryan Wilson, Haydn Holmes, Rocco Okesene and Kai Gilhespy. All were converted by Okesene.
The second half tries came from Jordan Ostle (2), Gilhespy, Jonty Hill, Brett Stevenson and Gary Tierney.
Okesene converted five and Gilhespy put over the last kick of the game.
You can hear the views below of Ellenborough coach Paul Gorge:
