Already preparing for Challenge Cup action next month, Wath Brow Hornets made progress in the Ace Insurance BARLA National Cup.

They got through to the third round with a 22-6 home win over gritty opponents Drighlington who stood up well to a series of ferocious home attacks.

From the kick off both sets of forwards hammered each other with neither team giving an inch, although the Hornets’ trio of Mark Troughton, Mally Caton and Kevin Thompson worked tirelessly to put the visitors under immense pressure but with no result.

Eventually the Hornets made the breakthrough when a clever kick over the top from Ryan Robb resulted in youngster Peter Caddy winning the footrace to touchdown for the Brow in the corner. Robb’s conversion from the touchline was accurate for a 5-0 lead.

For the rest of the half both teams battled fiercely to seize the initiative and for Drighlington, Andrew Darrat, Lee Mulliner and Ryan Burton leading from the front. But there was no further score by half-time.

At the start of the second-half the visitors put the home side under immense pressure with the visitors’ John Gallagher and Ryan Jackson combining well to go close.

Hard-working full-back Ryan Amor was the Hornets’ hero as he produced a try-saving tackle on Jackson to prevent him from crossing the whitewash.

From the re start the Hornets pair of Thompson and Graham Lupton combined well to make good yards up field. Mick McAllister took the inside pass but was unable to keep control of the ball.

From the scrum Drighlington also spilled the ball giving the home side possession back. This time the Hornets pushed up deep into the Drighlington half before Robb took the ball in and stepped his way through the final defenders to extend the home side’s lead.

The visitors then started to put the home side under pressure again but were now starting to look tired in the strength-sapping, sticky conditions.

Eventually their efforts were rewarded when Drighlington’s Burton and Richard Dyson made great yards up field to give them an atacking field position.

A great break then from Luke Pennington put Mulliner into space and he burst over the whitewash to put the points on the board. The conversion was wide.

With only four points the difference now both teams were forcing their sets, resulting in numerous mistakes.

But the Hornets managed to go up a gear and the visitors struggled to defend against tem. Robb came onto a smart ball from Pettit and drove his way over the white wash to extend the home side’s lead. Robb converted.

The visitors were now looking tiered with the field getting very sticky and on 75 minutes Robb went on a darting little run, dummied and went through a gap to touch down.

With only a few minutes remaining the Hornets pack was dominant with  Troughton, Thompson, Pettit and Teare unstoppable. It resulted in Pettit crossing the whitewash  for the fourth try and  safe passage to the third round.

Wath Brow’s second team were in action at Distington in the Iggesund Cumberland ARL First Division and had to turn round an 18-8 half-time deficit to win 24-22.

The five Wath Brow tries came from Craig Dixon (2), Jamie Irving, David Byers and Liam Martin with Jason Connery landing two goals.

Distington scored three tries through Shaun Sutton (2) and Aiden Worthington while Clayton Sutton put over three conversions and two penalties.

Broughton Red Rose continued their push for top four honours when they hammered the bottom side Lowca 66-12.

Richard Harrington (3), John Ritson (2) and Richard Campbell (2) led the try-feast with the touchdowns from Mark Walker, Dale Semple, Carl Harrison and Bryan Park. Walker landed eleven goals.

Dean Morgan and Lee Allen scored the Lowca tries and Keith Campbell put over both conversions.

Glasson Rangers stayed firmly in top four contention when they beat Ellenborough Rangers 32-10.

A pale shadow of their former all-conquering selves Ellenborough and they could only manage tries by Jamie Watson and Paul Southward. Robert Scott put over a conversion.

Glasson were clear winners with tries from Gary Pickering (2), Matthew Johnson, Paul Upex, James Moore and Matthew Burns. Lee Taylor kicked three goals and Craig Hamilton booted one.

Seaton were clear 44-0 winners over Hensingham as they stayed well clear at the top. Richard George (2), Callum Phillips (2), Paul Lowrey, Mark Routledge, Chris Highton and Andy McGlasson all crossed and there were six conversions from Brett Phillips.

An unfortunate incident late in the game between champions Kells and Maryport resulted in the contest being abandoned with seven minutes still left on the clock.

The referee was injured in a melee when members of both teams were involved in a brawl.

The management committee will now have to decide what action to take and whether the result will stand.

Kells were leading 18-8 at the time with tries from Grant McLaughlin (2) and David Lowrey, plus three goals by Tony Burns.

Dean Scholey scored a try for Maryport which was converted by Andrew Cartwright. Craig Foster also put over a penalty.

Only two games went ahead in Division Two with leaders Cockermouth one of the winners.

They beat Flimby 46-0 with tries from Ryan Burns (2), Liam Wild (2), Mark Haycock, Jonny Goulding, Paul Graffin and Lee Burns. Mark McMillin kicked four goals and Burns added the fifth.

Salterbeck Storm were 24-10 winners at Kells A as Terry McDowell, Dean Henderson, David Watson and Daniel Riddick scored tries. In addition Riddick kicked four goals.

David Agnew and Scott Nichol scored the Kells ties with Lewis Smith putting over a goal.

Saturday’s fixtures are: Division One – Kells v Seaton; Lowca v Broughton RR.

Division Two: Seaton A v Kells A; Salterbeck Storm v Salterbeck A; Maryport A v Flimby; Gt Clifton v Egremont; Frizington v Cockermouth.

SJR Cumberland Cup round one: Wath Brow v Maryport; Distington v Hensingham.

The pictures were taken by MAL WALKER at the Wath Brow National Cup game and show tries from David Pettit, Peter Caddy and two by Ryan Robb.

Mal's prints can can be bought at £25 for an A4 framed and £40 for an A3 framed. Prints only are £10 A4 and £15 A3.  

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