Last updated 09:09, Monday, 29 December 2008

Iggesund BARLA Cumbria Cup Final: Ellenborough Rangers 19 Kells 8: Ellenborough retained the BARLA Iggesund Cumbria Cup and dedicated the victory over Kells to their club chairman Wilson Smith who passed away on Christmas Day.

Ellenborough celebrate their win

In an emotional victory, Ellenborough stole a march on rivals Kells to bag their second festive victory in two years.

The game started with a bang, a player from each side getting sin binned after a brawl in the opening minute.

Ellenborough full-back Dean Scholey and Kells prop forward Dave Lowrey were the two players sent from the field for their part in the melee.

And after five minutes Ellenborough went into the lead when centre Jamie Watson powered over the line with three defenders hanging off him. Stephen Stoddart tagged on the extras for a 6-0 advantage.

From the restart Kells looked as though they would hit back straight away but knocked on in front of the posts.

Halfway through the first period Stoddart slotted over a penalty to make it 8-0 and it remained that way until the break.

The rest of the half was a dour affair with both sides having chances but failing to capitalise on them.

The second half started in similar fashion and a spark was needed to relight the game. It was Ellenborough who got the first breakthrough with what looked as though it could be the match winning try.

Stoddart used his experience to put up a high bomb into the sunny corner of the pitch. With the sun in their faces, it was spilled by a Kells defender and Stoddart was there to scoop it up and touch down.

He went on to add the extras and Ellenborough were looking more comfortable at 14-0.

That seemed to be the wake up call Kells needed as they began a fightback, Paul Lowrey made a great break but they couldn’t seem to finish off until the 59th minute.

It was hooker Kevin Agnew who finally got the first points on the board for the Whitehaven outfit. Agnew burrowed his way over from close distance but Tony Burns missed with the conversion and Kells had to settle for 14-4.

They doubled that shortly after as Carl Schofield touched down. A long ball came out, missed a man and Schofield collected it and squeezed in at the corner flag but again the conversion was missed leaving the score at 14-8.

But with the clock ticking down, Ellenborough were determined not to let their lead slip away any further and they had a great final three minutes.

First Stoddart got himself in the perfect position to slot over a drop goal and then Dean Scholey slid in for a try in the dying seconds.

Good hands from the Ellenborough side saw a looping pass go out to the right flank and Scholey stepped into the line to get on the end of it and collect the try. The conversion was missed and the final whistle sounded for an E lbra victory.

Ellenborough loose forward Barrie Murdock was man of the match with a workmanlike performance in both attack and defence, having to switch to hooker after the departure of Kyle Lofthouse through injury.

Stoddart also had a good game, with Carl Sice standing out for Kells, causing some problems. Centres Steve McGrady and Scott Lofthouse also showed flashes of brilliance but did not see enough ball to cause too much damage.

Both sides now turn their attentions back to the league and to the Carnegie Challenge Cup, which begins in January.

MATCH FACTS
Ellenborough: Dean Scholey, David Sewell, Jamie Watson, Jonathan Heaney, Paul Southward, Steven Stoddart, Eddie Robinson, Lee Halbert, Kyle Lofthouse, Jason Moore, John Addison, Craig Holdsworth, Barrie Murdock. Subs (all used):Shane Ackerley, Darren Branthwaite, Simeon Gilmour, Paul McGee.
Kells: Carl Sice, Paul Lowrey, Steve McGrady, Scott Lofthouse, Ryan McGuinness, Ross Gainford, Steve Kirkbride, Shaun Flanagan, Kevin Agnew, Dave Lowrey, Carl Schofield, Barry Boyd, Tony Burns. Sub (all used): Lewis Smith, Lewis Wilson, Gregg Lofthouse, Lee Rutherford.
Referee: Neil Byers.
Attendance: 508.
Star Man: Barrie Murdock (Ellenborough)