Last updated 19:41, Thursday, 01 May 2008

NETHERHALL failed in their bid to win promotion from the Cumbria League when they were beaten at home in the play-off 20-0 by Burnley.

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KICKER: Paul Atkinson

The visitors had a much bigger pack and dominated the entire game with forward power.

As would be expected from a Netherhall team they tackled and fought every inch of the way but against a big pack of forwards were thwarted.

The game started off with the Burnley forwards mauling for 20 metres into the home 22 and only ferocious tackling by the Netherhall back row kept their line in tact.

Eventually a forward drive was stopped inches short of the line and a pick-up by the prop forward resulted in a try for the visitors. The stand off put the conversion wide.

Netherhall battled into their half with strong forward drives by Ryan Robertson and Ben Brinicombe which were halted by a superb defensive line.

The Maryport side was having to live off scraps but despite this the home backs looked threatening any time they did get half-decent ball.

Midway through the first half another forward surge on the Netherhall line saw the hooker crash over to score an unconverted try.

Netherhall never gave up and for 10 minutes leading up to half-time were on top. A clever kick from tenacious scrum half Tony Nicholson saw Andrew Patterson break free but the cover got over to tackle him.

Netherhall moved the ball to Andrew Southwell who was tackled just short and when the scrum was won by Netherhall the visitors infringed but Paul Atkinson put the penalty wide.

The second half was much the same as the first with forward domination by the visitors.

The Burnley backs had lots of good ball but the Netherhall midfield defence of Andrew Branthwaite and Atkinson stopped them every time.

Liam Thomason and Lee Towers came on as replacements and made an impact with solid tackling but the visitors scored again when their flanker, who was the man of the match, scored a fine unconverted try.

In the last five minutes the visitors scored another try from a forward drive which also went unconverted.

Netherhall accepted that they had been beaten by a better team on the day but the visitors would know they had been in a battle as the tackling stint of the home side had been immense.

The season ended with a defeat but the young Maryport team should be proud of their season finishing second in the Cumbria League.

Their season is not over yet as they have to play Creighton at home in the semi-finals of the Cumbria Plate and they still have an opportunity to put some silverware on the table.