October 27, 2001

By Steve Coulter

THE Youngers Scotch Bitter Cumberland Amateur Rugby League suffered its first major fixture disruption of the campaign after torrential rain on Friday left several grounds unplayable.

The wipe-out included all but two of the scheduled First Division programme, including Hensingham's visit to Westfield - their third consecutive Saturday without a game.

Friday night's Division One game at Gillfoot Park between Egremont Rangers and Wath Brow Hornets was the first casualty and Seaton called-off their fixture against Kells the following morning.

ELLENBOROUGH'S Paul McGee rolled-back the clock to unleash an awesome performance of chilling efficiency, which had opponents St. Nicholas looking on in admiration.

The former BARLA International raised his hero status to something approaching iconic, as he eclipsed the Carlisle side virtually single-handedly with a massive contribution to Rangers' 44-12 First Division victory at Gilford Park - including a superb hat-trick of tries and five goals.

Saints came out like men possessed against the Maryport outfit, but all they did was arouse a snoozing giant.

The physical confrontations, notably the early forward collisions, proved the catalyst behind Elbra's second-half revival.

Both sides thrived on the early clashes, and there was little in it at the break, the visitors ahead 12-6.

McGee broke the deadlock midway through the first period, and added the goal to give Rangers the lead.

Scrum-half Phil Brown increased the advantage 10 minutes later, after some good work down the right. McGee again added the extras.

Saints came back strongly towards the end of the half and resulted in Richard Nicholson waltzing in for a try converted by Craig Stalker.

Rangers gained extra motivation from the fiery beginning to the second period, and hit the defensive line with renewed vigour.

It wasn't surprising when they increased their lead almost immediately with player-coach Jonty Gorley finishing off some fine approach work. McGee converted.

The turning point in the game however, came between the 50th and 56th minutes when Saints were reduced to eleven men after first, Duncan Reynolds and then Steve Bitcombe were both dismissed by Referee Neil Byers for dissent.

Saints faltered after the double blow, and despite heroic efforts from loose-forward Terry Glencross and second-rower Richard Nicholson, never really threatened Ellenborough's ascendancy again.

With numerical advantage, Ellenborough capitalised to score further tries through McGee, two, centre Neil Humes and back-rower Craig Moore. The try of the afternoon however, belonged to Brown, who ran the length of the field to register his second touchdown; he also landed the conversion.

Ball-retention, or the lack of it, put a question mark against a relatively easy Ellenborough win at the final wash-up. Its an area that Coach Gorley is acutely aware and one he his sure to be highlighting to the squad in the run-up to this week-ends important Cumbria Cup clash at Millom.

Martin Stalker had the final word of the afternoon, with a typical opportunist interception try on the stroke of full-time. Brother Craig added the goal.

WHEN Wigton and Glasson Rangers last met in the Third Division Championship play-off at the end of last season, it was the Barton Laws side that confounded the tipsters to take the trophy 30-20.

Their prospects looked equally promising when ace kicker Justin Bennett gave them the lead after 9 minutes with a soundly struck penalty, awarded by Referee Cliff Hodgson when he caught Glasson offside.

Wigton played with a lot of confidence in the first forty-minutes and were rewarded in the 32nd minute when strong-running second-row-forward Steve Carruthers crossed for a try, which Bennett converted.

With an eight point advantage Wigton had laid a solid base, but unfortunately that was Rangers cue to blow the foundations apart, and it was ex-Cumbria County professional Steve Maguire who rallied his troops with yet another hugely influential display.

Glasson made the mistake of being sucked into a forwards battle and suffered badly as a consequence. The fact that they changed both their approach and tactics was sound judgement from coach Mike Easterbrook.

Stylish middle-back Mark Smith went over to reduce the arrears for Rangers with an unconverted touchdown five minutes before the interval.

Accomplished stand-off-half Bennett increased the hosts advantage with a cunning drop-goal after good field position had been gained.

Glasson endured some nervy moments as Wigton tried to kill the game with another score. But it was the visitors who claimed the all-important score, when BARLA Under-21 International Greg Rowley crossed after 28 minutes to put Rangers in front for the first time in the match.

It was a lead they never lost, pressing home their advantage with second tries from both Rowley and Man-of-the-match Smith. Rowley converting his own touchdown for a 18-7 victory.

Wigton secretary Ronnie Teasdale was in upbeat mood after the game despite the defeat.

"It's no use making excuses, its a game we hoped we might win but in the end Glasson deserved the two points.

"In Gary Nixon and Steve Maguire they have two players who can organise a team around them, and that proved decisive.

"But credit to our lads, they put in an enormous amount of effort and if they are doing that then you can't complain.

"We sometimes lose sight of the fact that sport is for enjoyment and the lads are certainly enjoying playing. We do need a win, but playing is the important part.

IT proved to be one-way traffic at Papcastle Road where Broughton Red Rose returned to the top of Division Two with a crushing 92-1 victory over a Flimby side still lacking match fitness.

Red Rose took full advantage of their visitors 'rustiness' to chalk up their biggest win of the season.

Leading 46-1 at the break, the result was never in doubt as the hosts ran in sixteen tries.

Broughton were too strong all round, and their brilliance in attack and absolute belief in their own ability, were the determining factors in such a heavy defeat for gallant Flimby.

Hooker Steve Brough led the way with four, Ryan Moore and Ryan Bates, each crossed twice, while there was one apiece for Brian Edgar, David Thurlow, Richard Campbell, Dale Semple, Gareth Skillen, David Varty, Tim Taylor, and Mark Dixon.

Winger David Thurlow landed 14 goals from sixteen attempts to rocket to the head of the goal-Kicking charts.

Broughton Red Rose secretary Peter Byrom thought the game had been played in true spirit despite the scoreline. He said: "It was a good clean game and there wasn't a single penalty throughout the whole eighty minutes.

"Flimby to their credit kept going to the end and not one head dropped."

Flimby secretary Tony Nisbit was far from disheartened. "We went into the game with a lot of changes from last week.

"One or two missed out through injuries picked-up against Wath Brow and we were depleted even further by several others attending ex-Flimby favourite Brett Smith's wedding.

"We knew it would be tough, Broughton Red Rose are a good all-round side and it didn't help when we suffered another couple of injuries early in the game.

"Injuries were always going to be a problem given our level of fitness. We have a bit of catching-up to do in that department.

"But we have no complaints, the lads are happy to be turning out for the club again, and getting the club functioning was our main objective for this season."

EARLY days or not, a couple of rousing performances including this latest 36-2 defeat of Salterbeck Storm, have made it quickly apparent that Maryport are stronger than in the past two years. Both mentally and physically, and on the scoreboard, they look genuine contenders, though not many would have given them a chance before the season started.

Maryport's style of play is to be commended and their spontaneous brand of attacking football is gaining them a lot of friends and they are quickly earning the tag of "The Entertainers."

Alan Davidson's sides' control of the ball in near impossible conditions at Walker Road was far superior to Salterbeck's. The Storm's handling deteriorated as sharply as the weather and turned what should have been a keenly contested affair into an exercise in frustration.

Maryport scored tries through, Stephen Cameron, two, Gary Southwell, two, Mike McMullen, BARLA Under-21 International Ian Ivison, and the magnificent Mark Foster. Garry Anderson with three and Andrew Cartwright kicked the goals.

LEE ALLEN was the chief-architect in Lowca's third win of the season in Division Two, against a disappointing Penrith outfit who slipped to a heavy defeat for the second successive week-end.

Penrith competed equally only in the area of effort. In the other key areas of creating and finishing chances they were thoroughly out-gunned.

Lowca's ten-try tally could easily have been fifteen - other chances were missed by a whisker.

Completely in command at the half-way stage when they led 24-4, Lowca racked up another 36 points in the second period to win 60-8.

Lee Allen, leading from the front, aided and abetted by Gary Haile shared six tries, while David Colley crossed twice and was followed by Stuart Ennis and Dean Finlay with one each. Lee Weighman kicked a marvellous ten goals from ten attempts.

Great Clifton Lions failed to raise sufficient numbers for their trip to Wath Brow Hornets 'A' and the game was called off.

KELLS 'A' got back to winning ways in their quest for the Alliance League Championship - but not without an early scare.

They barely held out for four minutes before Seaton 'A' scrum-half Craig Humphries pounced to put the Allerdale side in front. Full-back Mark Benson converted.

Stunned into action, Kells hit-back within three minutes when second-rower Dean Bragg crashed over for a touchdown, he converted it himself.

On 11 minutes Benson put Seaton back in front with a penalty, and they increased their lead to 14-6 when stand-off-half Shaun Johnsen ripped in for a 17th minute touchdown. Benson added the goal.

Kells clawed their way back into the game and the vistors line was showing increasingly worrying signs of collapse under the intense pressure.

The breakthrough came on 19 minutes when scrum-half Darren Wilson darted in between the posts. Bragg converted.

Ten minutes later and Kells were in front courtesy of substitute Lee Birkett. Again Bragg kicked the goal.

With the half drawing to a close, Seaton's BARLA Under-23 International forward Mike Melville levelled matters with an unconverted try.

Kells sixteen-years-old Mark Kirkbride restored the home sides' lead after 48 minutes, which Bragg failed to convert.

It was anybody's guess at this stage as to the outcome, and the game was level again after 55 minutes when Matthew Robinson crossed for the visitors. Benson goaled.

Only four minutes remained with a draw looking the likely outcome when Bragg stepped through for his second try of the afternoon and seal a 28-24 victory.