Seaton Rangers retained their 100% record in the Iggesund Cumberland League First Division by beating second-placed Glasson Rangers 28-18.
It was a first-half display of power which set-up a useful advantage for the League leaders as they led 22-6 at the break.
Glasson fought back bravely in the second-half but couldn’t do enough to turn things round completely.
Ross Easterbrook, Scott Burns and John Fidler scored the Glasson tries, all converted by Brad Nixon.
Seaton won their twelfth game of the season with tries by Chris Highton, Tom Clarkson, Lee Hunter, Paul Lowry and Nathan Kirkbride. Brett Phillips kicked four goals.
Although back in fourth, 12 points behind Seaton, it looks as though Kells will emerge as the only serious threat to the runaway leaders. Their only defeat in seven games was the early-season clash with Seaton.
Remarkably, despite having played five fewer games, Kells have scored more points than Seaton – 250 to 238 – and still believe they can retain their League title. It might mean winning all 11 League game, including the return with Seaton.
They were comfortable winners 54-6 against Wath Brow Hornets as Scott Lofthouse led the way with a hat-trick of tries.
Scott Farmer (2), Ross Gainford, Ryan Groggins, Carl Schofield and Stephen McGrady also scored with Tony Burns landing nine goals.
Jason Connery scored a try and kicked the goal for Hornets.
Ellenborough Rangers have only four games left to play after they completed fixture number fourteen at Distington, and a 30-14 defeat at Distington keeps them under pressure to stay out of a relegation place.
Dennis Bibby, Mark French and Jamie Watson scored the Ellenborough tries with Rob Scott adding a goal.
Distington won with tries from Gavin Martin (2), Mike Renney, Craig Hodgson, Aiden Worthington and Tony Tinkler. Martin also added three goals.
If Seaton and Kells seem likely to fight out the title, that still leaves two vacant spots in the top four play-offs and there are four candidates.
Two of them met at Broughton where Red Rose held-off a challenge from Maryport to win 14-10.
Richard Harrington and Jonathan Ritson scored he Broughton tries with Mark Walker converting both and adding a penalty.
Maryport stayed in the contest with tries from Scott Akehurst and Ian Ivison, as well as a goal by Rob Scott.
Hensingham are also in contention and they beat bottom side Lowca 38-18 with tries from James Cartmell (2), Jordan Buchanan (2), Jamie Sharp () and Jamie Glasgow. Sharpe landed five goals.
Lee Morgan and Gary Haile each crossed twice for Lowca with Keith Campbell adding a conversion.
Only two games out of the five scheduled were played in Division Two and they were both pretty tight affairs.
The best was at Cockermouth where the League leaders had to come from behind to beat Frizington 18-12.
The visitors had led 12-10 at the break with tries from Peter Fowler an Ryan Tinkler, plus two goals from Wayne Burns.
The Cockermouth tries came from Mark McMillin, Chris Milner and Mark Haycock. McMillin also kicked three goals.
Seaton A almost tuned things round against visitors Salterbeck Storm after trailing 14-4 at the break. But the Storm weathered the storm and eventually won 24-18 – although it was four tries apiece.
The Seaton touchdowns came from Peter Watson (2), Gareth Messenger and Duncan Moyles. Craig Fisher put over a goal.
Ryan McClure and James Mottram scored two tries apiece for Salterbeck and it was the goals from Connor White (3) and Callum Moffat (1) which proved crucial.
Fixtures for Saturday:- Iggesund Cumberland League Division One – Distington v Wath Brow; Seaton v Hensingham; Broughton Red Rose v Lowca; Maryport v Kells; Ellenborough v Glasson.
Iggesund Cumberland League Division two – Egremont v Maryport A; Kells A v Salterbeck Storm; Hensingham A v Great Clifton; Cockermouth v Flimby; Salterbeck A v Frizington.
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A PTS
Seaton 12 12 0 0 266 76 24
Glasson 12 7 1 4 279 226 15
Maryport 11 6 1 4 283 190 13
Kells 7 6 0 1 250 48 12
Hensingham 10 5 1 4 184 195 11
Broughton RR 7 5 0 2 172 112 10
Ellenborough 14 4 0 10 190 416 8
Wath Brow 10 3 1 6 177 202 7
Distington 10 3 0 7 174 207 6
Lowca 13 1 0 12 114 600 2
DIVISION TWO
Cockermouth 13 12 0 1 422 138 24
Kells A 12 11 0 1 344 196 22
Salterbeck 11 9 0 2 310 162 18
Great Clifton 12 7 0 5 351 190 14
Frizington 11 6 1 4 310 174 13
Egremont 12 6 0 6 312 292 12
Maryport A 15 6 0 9 236 403 12
Flimby 14 5 1 8 320 330 11
Seaton A 14 5 0 9 308 348 10
Salterbeck A 13 3 0 10 196 534 6
Hensingham A 13 2 0 11 194 424 4
Lowca A 6 1 0 5 54 250 2
