Rugby union: Cumbria League

Last updated 15:55, Wednesday, 23 April 2008

NETHERHALL won their last home Cumbria League game to secure second place and to go into the promotion play-offs against Burnley.

But they were given a splendid game by Egremont and, although it finished 31-15 at Maryport, the visitors were in contention for a long time.

The hosts’ winger Andrew Patterson crashed over in the corner to open the scoring, Paul Atkinson converting.

Egremont were soon back in their own 22 following big raking kicks from Atkinson and Carl Philips. Ian Gorley, having another fine game in the line, took one against the throw and the forward drive was used well by props Lewis Tyson and Ryan Robertson.

Egremont’s defence was split when Steven Knowles made a break to feed Gorley and he raced 30 metres for a try which Atkinson converted.

Egremont came back and worked their way into the home 22 and were awarded a penalty which Jack Kelly converted to make it 14-3.

From the kick-off, Netherhall were awarded a penalty just inside their half. Atkinson opted to have long range kick which was successful.

The last five minutes of the half saw the home forwards camped on the visitors’ line. Another big run by Brinicombe was stopped by a last ditch tackle.

Netherhall won the scrum and mauled towards the line where Lee Towers drove over for a try which Atkinson again converted for a 24-3 lead.

Egremont began the second half kicking with the wind and, from one such kick, the ball was won back and moved across the backs for winger Glyn Butler to score.

Kelly then made a break and beat two defenders to score a good try which he converted to close the gap to 24-15.

The game was settled when Andrew Branthwaite made a break and fed Simon Irving who was having another good game. He fed on to Patterson who brushed aside three defenders on his 30 metre run to score. Atkinson put over the conversion.

Keswick completed their season with a 36-7 win at BAE Barrow to go through the season unbeaten. The champions dropped only one point in a home draw with Millom.

Captain Gavin McGuire and Ashley Lamont were the only two regular starting first team players to travel to Aspatria with Millom on Saturday.

Travelling with only 14 players including coaches Gordon Park at hooker and Jason Slater at stand-off, Millom expected a bit of a thumping.

However by the end of the game, the team was disappointed to go down 14-12.

Millom did score two tries, both by skipper McGuire.

Both tries were carbon copies of each other with McGuire using his power to drive over from short range with defenders hanging on. Lamont converted one.

Either side of half-time, Aspatria had taken the lead when the Millom defence failed to number up on the blind side and allowed the home stand-off Walter Cloete to go in under the posts. Cloete also landed the conversion.

The other Eagles try came when a vicious bounce of the ball, following a failed kick to touch, eluded stand-off Slater and bounced into the hands of Colin Noble who scored half way between the posts and touchline. He added the conversion himself.

With one league game left at home to Netherhall next week, Millom must also get in a Cumbria Plate semi-final at Whitehaven and Westmorland Cup final at Upper Eden.

Whitehaven and Gosforth Greengarth were in action against each other for the second time in a month. As in the Cumbria Plate clash, Whitehaven came-out on top – this time by 46-12.

The hosts had got off to a good start when Nick Twinn broke through from full-back and raced 35 metres to score the opening try which Stephen McConnell converted.

The visitors drew level when they scored a try from John Irving and Sean Madden added the conversion.

Greengarth took the lead when top scorer Matt McGoogan grabbed an unconverted try. Only two late penalties from McConnell put Whitehaven back in front.

The second-half was dominated by Whitehaven, particularly after the arrival of forward replacements Calum Jennings and Colin McAllister while Greengarth had prop Jason Graham sin-binned. With no replacements they also lost hooker Richard Gray through injury.

Jennings set them on their way in the second-half when he went over for a try which McConnell converted. Good driving work by the forwards ended in George Suafoa going over for a try, again converted by McConnell.

Whitehaven’s best handling move of the match ended with winger Chris Flynn touching down in the corner for a 32-12 lead. Jennings scored his second try after Suafoa had popped-up a pass to him. McConnell converted.

Then skipper Mark Lancaster got in on the act when he shot through to score the final try, again converted by McConnell.