Rugby union: Cumbria League

Last updated 11:06, Friday, 15 February 2008

GOSFORTH Greengarth made it four wins in a row when they beat Aspatria Eagles 22-10 in the Cumbria League.

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Good dodge: Stephen McCourt ducks and dives

Coach Steve Edgar presented his players with a keg of lager – held over after they recorded three wins in a row.

Greengarth’s Stephen Brown said: “He has promised us two kegs if we can stretch the run to six games but we have tough games with Moresby and Millom coming up.

“We have no bar in our clubhouse so I brought a television round and we sat with the lager watching it. We had a great night.”

Aspatria were first to score with a fifth minute penalty from Jack Clegg.

But on 10 minutes the home side went in front by scoring the opening try. A good handling move saw Matt McGoogan put Graham Temple over in the corner and Sean Madden added a fine touchline conversion.

It was Madden who extended Gosforth Greengarth’s lead when he counter-attacked brilliantly, slicing through four would-be tackles to score.

But Aspatria hit back on 25 minutes when clever play close to the line by Heinrich Jonker saw him dart through to score a try which Clegg converted.

Five minutes before half-time the home side scored again. Once again good handling over a 40 metre move ended with Temple going in at the corner for his second touchdown. Again Madden converted well.

For 20 minutes at the start of the second-half Aspatria were virtually camped on the home line and only some resolute defence kept them out.

In the final quarter, however, it was Gosforth Greengarth who took charge and only some poor handling prevented them from adding to their total.

Madden kicked a penalty from 20 metres on 70 minutes and soon after missed one from twice the distance.

League leaders Keswick ran riot at the Ellis Sports Ground as they racked-up 109 points without reply against Workington.

It was a record-breaking score for the Lakes side, beating the 104-0 victory over Ambleside in 1952.

Whitehaven were also in good scoring form as they beat BAE Barrow 50-5 at the Playground.

Coach John Gaffney said: “We haven’t played much recently so I was well-pleased with the rugby we produced. There were some good tries and it was a solid display all-round.”

They took the lead on 12 minutes when prop Gary Blakeley, who went on to produce an outstanding performance, crashed through for the opening try with Stephen McConnell converted.

Winger Chris Flynn went 35 yards to score the second try and soon afterwards the ball was shipped out to the opposite flank where Gary Wroe still had work to do but finished well.

Whitehaven increased their lead to 24-0 before the break when flanker Andrew Blaney was put over by Michael Gaffney under the posts and McConnell converted.

Wroe scored his second try soon after the restart after Whitehaven had put together half a dozen good phases of play. McConnell converted.

Gaffney was the provider again on 58 minutes when Stephen McCourt raced 40 metres to score an unconverted try.

McCourt then set-up McConnell for the seventh try, which the scorer converted, and the only check to Whitehaven’s relentless progress was a try for BAE Barrow on a rare visit to the home 22.

Whitehaven did score the last try of the game when George Suafoa brushed off three tackles to score and McConnell brought up the half century with the conversion.

Egremont were unlucky against Millom as they conceded a converted try in the last minute to lose 13-7.

The home side had shaded a tight first-half and should have been further in front at the break. Gavin Donaldson scored a try which was converted by Jade Barton.

Mike Burrow put in two great runs and was close to adding to the Egremont lead but just couldn’t get over.

Millom managed to reduce the arrears before the break with a penalty by Dan Redhead and a second successful kick soon after the restart by the same player put them right into contention.

Millom finished the stronger of the two sides and when Burrow was sin-binned 15 minutes from time the 14 men had to produce some magnificent defence to hold-out the south Cumbrians.

It was ironic that Burrow had returned, and Egremont were back up to strength when Millom scored the crucial try by skipper Gavin McQuire with just a minute left on the clock. The successful conversion by Redhead was purely statistical.

Peter Moore and Chris Park were always lively performers for Millom in the backs.

The game between Creighton and Moresby was postponed as the West Cumbrians were unable to field enough front row players.

Cumbria League – Aspatria Eagles v Whitehaven; Keswick v Egremont; Millom v Creighton; Moresby v Gosforth Greengarth.