Ellenborough Rangers came out on top in the Cumbria Conference’s all-Allerdale clash with Seaton Rangers.
It was anybody’s game at half-time with Elbra leading 18-12 but they pulled away to score 22 unanswered points in the second half.
There was no score until the 18th minute when Seaton went ahead with a try from Jaiden Tallentire which was converted by Kieran Robinson.
It was all square eight minutes later when Daniel Penman got over for Elbra and Rocco Okesene added the conversion.
Ellenborough went in front on the half hour mark through Andy Ostle, and again Okesene added the extras.
But Seaton hit back quickly with a try by Lewis Mason, again converted by Robinson.
Ellenborough were able to take an advantage into the break when Kai Gilhespy got over two minutes before half-time and Okesene converted.
The bigger and stronger Ellenborough side started to exert their authority in the second-half but it took until the 59th minute before they scored again, an unconverted try by Penman.
Brett Stevenson went over after 62 minutes followed by Gilhespy (73) and Jordan Ostle (76) with all three converted by Okesene.
Seaton coach Neil Frazer was on duty with Whitehaven at Newcastle Thunder but he told Cumbria Crack: “The other coaches that were there said we had four tries disallowed and a couple of them were when we were on top and had a bit of momentum.
“But Elbra ran away with it in the second half as they were a lot bigger and stronger team.
“To make matters worse I hear we have picked up three more injuries.”
Paul Gorge, the Ellenborough coach, gives his thoughts below on the game:
Millom needed a performance and result when they hosted Maryport and they got it with a 32-10 victory.
Although deserving winners they were made to work hard for their success by a determined and committed Maryport side.
Niall Harris and Dom O’Brien scored tries with Rio Walker adding one conversion as Millom led 10-0 at half time.
Andrew Dawson, Walker (2) and Josh Blinkhorn scored tries in the second half with Walker converting three of them. Walker, an England Under-19s international centre, showed his class with two long-distance tries.
Luke Baker and 17-year-old debutant Connor Mottley scored the Maryport tries with Craig Foster converting one.
Millom coach Brad Crellin gives his views below:
And here is the verdict of Maryport’s Mark Foster:
There was a South Cumbrian derby clash between two sides who stay strongly opposed to the new Conference set-up and in the end Hindpool came out 46-16 winners at Ulverston.
Marc Storey, the Ulverston coach, said: “It was a disappointing day for us but full credit to Hindpool as they were the better team on the day.
“We played well in patches and switched off in patches, and as a result Hindpool punished us for it.
“It’s been a really frustrating season and the RFL let us down big time, but they wouldn’t listen.”
Evan Foster (2) and Rob Pike scored the Ulverston tries with Foster adding a conversion.
Kevin Kite the Hindpool coach was unable to be there on Saturday but he has had a report from his coaches.
“It appears to have been a good performance from our lads with some good rugby on display.
“We are finally able to get lads fighting for shirts for the 17 we are allowed on the day, which I still find a ridiculous ruling as it’s only our League that has to do this and puts players welfare more at risk.
“Competition for shirts will always drive players to perform better and that will always improve a team’s capability.
“We wish Ulverston all the best for the season as we know they are struggling in a League neither of us wanted to be in.”
Tightest game was at Hensingham where the home side went down 21-18 to Barrow Island, and had no complaints about the outcome.
The home side had actually scored first with a try from Dylan Bragg, which he converted but before half-time the Islanders had squeezed ahead 8-6 with two unconverted tries.
Again Hensingham scored first on the restart through man of the match
Fletcher Holgate and Bragg again converted for a 12-8 lead. But two converted tries, followed by a drop goal gave the visitors some breathing space and a late Nick Maudling try, converted by Bragg was little consolation.
Ellis Archer was the star of the show for Barrow Island with a hat-trick of tries and two conversions, plus the drop goal. Cameron Currie scored the other try.
Coach Jamie Curtis said: “It was a brilliant win and I had a feeling we would go up there and get something after some recent under-par performances.
“We’ve often come often second best to Hensingham in recent meetings.”
You can hear below what Hensingham coach Andrew Smith thought of the game:
In the other game unbeaten League leaders Dalton were given a tough test by Distington before they pocketed the points at 40-22.
The home side had established a 12-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes but showed great character to battle back and square the game at 12-12.
Just before half-time Dalton scored a third try to take a 16-12 lead into the break.
Distington maintained that effort and midway through the second half were right in the contest, just behind 24-22.
But Dalton finished strongly and put the game beyond the west Cumbrians with late scores.
Jack Penrice (2), Jack Worthington and Callum Fox scored the Distington tries and which gave coach Ryan Hodgson positives to take out of the game.
Dalton coach Paul Armstrong said: “I was really pleased with the win but we had to work very hard for it against a strong Distington side who played some brilliant rugby.
“It was pretty tight in the first-half but tries from Niall Maudsley and Ben Atkinson got us in front.
“Both sides lifted their game in the second half but a hat-trick from centre Tom Farren gave us a good lead before Distington rallied well with their half-backs leading them expertly to bring the score to 24-22 with 15 minutes left.
“But our lads stuck in for each other and further tries from Connor Grant, Ross Bird and Tom Sharpe in the last 10 minutes gave us the win in what was an excellent game.”
