Just three games were played in the Cumbria Conference but three close hard-fought games resulted.
In the West Cumbrian town derby Maryport came out on top 30-10 against local rivals Ellenborough. The two teams had drawn 28-28 at Ellenborough.
Elbra had got off to a flier with a try on three minutes from Andrew Ostle which was converted by Rocco Okesene.
Maryport levelled after 14 minutes when Ellis Nixon got over and Lewis Moore added the extras.
Both teams were playing as expected in a full-blooded derby, with no quarter asked or given, and it was Maryport who went ahead at the 30-minute mark with a long distance try from Liam Anderson, converted by Moore.
Ellenborough reduced the arrears with a second try from Ostle on 27 minutes but this time Okesene couldn’t convert.
But Maryport went in with a 16-10 lead when Kieran Featherstone scored their third try which went unconverted.
Maryport were the dominant side in the second-half and they were able to add 14 unanswered points with tries through Attlee Skillen and Luke Baker, both converted by Moore who added a penalty.
Hear Maryport coach Mark Foster’s view on the game below:
And listen to Elbra’s Paul Gorge’s views below:
There was another hard-fought game at Millom where Hensingham came from behind to beat the home side.
Millom had led 10-6 at half-time but Hensingham edged home in the end 18-14.
Rio McQuistan (2) and Josh Blinkhorn shared the Millom tries with Jackson Evans converting one.
Cohen Massey had given Hensingham the lead with the opening try which was converted by Dylan Bragg.
But after trailing 10-6 at the break the West Cumbrians conceded first on the restart and had to come from 14-6 behind to win it.
Bragg was first to offer his side hope with a try which he converted to close the gap to two points.
They won it with a try by Miller Dalton, again converted by Bragg.
Brad Crellin, Millom coach, gives his thoughts below:
Hensingham’s Andrew Smith shares his verdict below:
In the all-South Cumbrian clash Hindpool Tigers produced their best performance of the season and ran Barrow Island very close before going under 32-28.
The game was actually halted early after what appeared to be a serious injury to Island’s Max Anderson-Moore.
Fortunately, there appears to be nothing broken and it has been diagnosed as a sprain in the back.
The Island club offered their thanks to the Hindpool club for overseeing Anderson-Moore’s care whilst waiting for an ambulance.
Anderson-Moore had been on the score sheet with a try and four goals with other tries scored by Trent Ruddy (2), Cam Currie (2) and Adam Ford.
The Hindpool tries came from Paul Rickleton (2), Jack Stevens (2) and Rocco Scarponi with goals by Sam Beattie (3) and Ryan Kyte.
Two games called off were Distington v Ulverston and Seaton v Dalton.
