November 17, 2001

By Steve Coulter

NO surprises in the week-end cup games with all the fancied teams progressing to the semi-finals which have been rescheduled for December 8th, due to Silk Cut Challenge Cup commitments.

A SUPER-CONFIDENT Wath Brow Hornets marched into the Jennings BARLA Cumbria Cup semi-finals with a stunning 32-4 win over North-West Counties Premier Division outfit Barrow Island.

Six tries to one was a true indication of the Hornets' supremacy, and Island, who have tasted defeat only three times this season, never looked capable of making a match of it.

Hornets took a tight grip on their opponents from the opening minutes and never looked like relenting.

The Furness side battled well in the heavy conditions but found it an impossible mission against a big, powerful home pack. Dropped balls and poor options cost them any chance against such quality opposition.

The Island's backline didn't function at all and both centres were inconspicuous. Winger Dave Webster produced a little bit of magic with a 78th minute try but it was too little, too late.

Neil Gregg and front row partner Jonty Moore, combined as well as they ever had. Both took it in turns at barging at the Island defence - always making yardage and allowing the Hornet three-quarters the right to free-movement wide out.

Island simply had no answer to the muscle of the Hornets six, as the bruising Brow regularly smashed their way up the centre of the ruck.

And they certainly had no-one to match outstanding stand-off Carl Rudd, who looked the complete article with a perfect blend of the broadsword and the rapier.

Both Rudd, and half-back partner Craig Johnston, gave great performances for Hornets and worried the life out of the Barrow defence.

Neil Stewart and centre Andrew Stables were also highly prominent with super-charged performances.

Hornets drew first blood after 7 minutes through centre Ian Rooney, following some clever lead-up work for the skipper to cross for an unimproved try.

Gary Clark pushed Hornets further ahead on 11 minutes when he gathered the rebound off a short kick through to touch down.

Johnston stretched the home sides lead to twelve points when he benefited from a great Stewart off-load to ground under the posts. Gavin Curwen converted to send Hornets in at the break 14-0 ahead.

Another short kick was turned into points 6 minutes into the second-half when Curwen raced through to score a delightful try, which he also improved.

A unique occurrence in the 56th minute saw club sponsor James Robinson come off the bench to score a tremendous try close to the posts, after some memorable support play down the middle. Curwen added the goal.

Gary Elliot wrapped up the win after 70 minutes, cruising over for a try in the corner after the ball had been swung wide. Curwen tagged on the extras.
Two minutes of the tie remained when Island winger Webster touched down for a consolation score.

DETERMINATION and iron-willed commitment were the ingredients which led Seaton Rangers into the Cumbria Cup semi-finals courtesy of a hard earned 14-12 victory.

Fuelled by their new-found confidence this year Seaton powered through with a 68th minute try from wingman Martin Wilson, after looking to be on their way out of the competition.

It was a masterstroke by coach Paul Hodgson in pulling Wilson out of the pack and on to the flank, and the youngster duly obliged his mentor with the gamebreaking score within two minutes of the switch.

Both sets of forwards threw themselves at each other in a ferocious yet relatively clean opening. It was the most bitter struggle of the season and a testimony to Seaton's strength is that they withstood Glasson and finally finished on top.
Glasson produced some excellent attacking football with the hallmark of coach Mike Easterbrook stamped all over it. In truth it was a match that had everything - drama, skill and courage - a game for the purists.

Seaton took a 15th minute lead with a try from inside-back Brett Heron, but centre Mark Smith hit back for Glasson after 26 minutes to send the teams in at the break locked at 4-all.

Ryan Scotter put the home side in front 3 minutes after the restart, much to the delight of a large crowd. But Duncan Moyle pulled the score back to 8-6 with a 51st minute penalty.

BARLA Under-21 International centre Greg Rowley looked to have sealed a semi-final showdown with holders Wath Brow Hornets with a try on 53 minutes.

Moyle pulled the score difference back to two points when he waltzed through for a try after 56 minutes and then Wilson sealed a great comeback for Seaton with a touchdown in the 68th minute.

A nerve-jangling final 10 minutes followed, but Seaton held firm to take their place in the last four.

Referee Paul Grundill was hailed by both clubs for his handling of a potentially fiery tie.

PENRITH watched their semi-finals hopes disappear in ten terrible minutes - when they led 18-14 - midway through the second period of their clash with Kells.

Kells, with 21 players unavailable, were slick and impressive in that final quarter to emerge with a 34-18 win against a Penrith side that again failed to fully capitalise on opportunities.

Penrith's difficulty in finishing attacking moves resurfaced and despite a 5th minute lead, faded towards the end.

Nevertheless, it was a game full of tension, excitement and thrills throughout, with the discipline of both sides exemplary despite the obvious pressure which quarter-final football brings.

Penrith were full of commitment - but found out that commitment alone merely puts a team in a winning position. Flair and luck are the other ingredients required for success and Penrith had little of either against the Copeland side.
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There was in essence, nothing organisationally wrong about Penrith in defence. The only reason this organisation broke down was because of Kells extra pace and balance during the final quarter.

Dennis Bibby had an imperial game at loose-forward for Penrith and his presence will be sorely missed during the coming month when he will be unavailable for selection.

Winger Martin Jones put the home side in front after a scything break by Bibby was carried on by Stuart Knubley, and a great pass saw the winger stretching over to score. Mark Brookes added the conversion.

Kells hit-back with three tries from back-rower Dean Bragg, Lee Rutherford and Matty Newell before the interval, one of which was converted by scrum-half Paul Graham to edge them in front 14-10.

A second Jones try after the break, converted by Brookes gave Penrith the lead early in the second-half. And a Brookes penalty with 20 minutes to go extended it to 18-14, and a shock looked likely.

Kells however, swung the ball wide against a tiring Penrith side and further tries from Rutherford, Bragg, Dexter Miller and Kevin Agnew, plus two goals from Graham saw Kells safely through to the last four.

Penrith secretary Brian Forrester wasn't too disheartened.

"The game was a great spectacle, both sides tried to play open football and referee Neil Byers complimented both camps on their discipline. And went on to add that it had been a pleasure to referee such a sporting game."

SECOND favourites Ellenborough Rangers terminated Egremont Rangers interest in the Jennings Cumbria Cup for another year with a 26-20 victory at Gillfoot Park - but not before receiving a fright from last seasons finalists.

Graeme Colley almost gave the hosts the lead after 6 minutes when Ellenborough lost the ball in their in-goal area, and Colley grounded. But referee Brian Conaway adjudged the ball had been stolen and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief.

Ellenborough took the lead on 10 minutes when former BARLA International Paul McGee landed a penalty, awarded when the home side strayed offside at a goal-line drop-out.

McGee, in tremendous form of late, scored the opening try of the game after 13 minutes after the ball was swung wide directly from a scrum. He also added the conversion.

Egremont prop-forward John Young, who was having a fine match, went 30 metres with the second-half just 7 minutes old to drag the score back to 4-8, with a try engineered by Steve Morris.

McGee again, on 50 minutes grabbed his second try when he raced 30 metres to the corner, finishing off some outstanding approach work from stand-off-half Eddie Robinson.

Five minutes later Colley did manage to get his name on the scoresheet with a fine individual touchdown. Lee Park added the conversion.

With twenty-five minutes remaining the game was alive again at 10-12 and the next score proved crucial.

Robinson, having an immaculate game, hoisted a high ball which was palmed back into play by an Egremont defender and Ellenborough substitute Simon Pattinson gleefully accepted the gift to score in the corner.

That incident, not for the first time this season, proved Egremont to be the architects of their own misfortune.

Philip Hoyles put Ellenborough into a commanding position when he crossed ten minutes before time, latching onto a great pass from Peter Bewick. McGee converted.

Egremont came back into the game and were awarded a penalty try on 74 minutes after centre Andrew Little had the ball ripped-out in the act of scoring. Park landed the goal.

With the clock ticking down, Kevin Cant spilled the ball after a ferocious hit and Neil Humes had the easiest of scores.

The final act of the game for the home side came in the shape of a consolation try from David Hartley, after good work from prop Dave Richardson and Stephen Long.

Egremont spokesman Stephen Bowes was bitterly disappointed after the game.

" Ellenborough were probably the more constructive team, although taken over the full eighty minutes there wasn't a great deal of difference between the teams.

"On the positive side Egremont did show a lot of fighting spirit.

"One of the big flaws in Egremont's game this season is the inability to kill man and ball, and as a consequence teams make up a lot of ground against them.

"A win today would have been a shot in the arm for the club, but the players stayed in it to the very end." he said.

A TWO try performance from coach Dave Richardson helped Egremont Rangers 'A' retain their unbeaten home record with a 30-22 Alliance victory over a spirited St. Nicholas 'A'.

But in a ten-try thriller at Gillfoot Park on Friday it was ironic that the goalkicking prowess of Andrew Hinde and John Hartley should separate the teams after 80 minutes of fast, free-flowing football.

Saints made the best possible start with a try in the 2nd minute when the tall and rangy 16-year-old Carl Higgins latched on to a perfectly placed cross kick to touch down.

Rangers' response was immediate and lethal, and on their first real advance into Nichs territory, Michael Hodgson deceived the visitors defence from dummy-half to level the scores.

Hinde made a glorious break on 16 minutes and the supporting Richardson took the pass on the move to go 40 metres for a try, which Hinde converted.

With Rangers in total command veteran hooker Michael Hall occupying the stand-off berth, used team-mate Garth Crooks as a decoy in the 23rd minute to edge the hosts further in front with an excellent touchdown. Hinde again converted.

Saints regrouped and mounted a good attacking spell which resulted in the increasingly impressive Higgins grabbing his second try after 26 minutes.

Coach Richardson playing at loose-forward restored the home sides advantage five minutes before the interval when he powered over from the base of the scrum. Hide landed a towering touchline conversion to end the half.

Elusive Winger Shaun Tiffen gave the Carlisle side a boost nine minutes into the second period with an unconverted try to drag the score back to 22-12.

Substitute full-back Gavin Donaldson replied for Egremont after 55 minutes, when he regathered his own delicate kick through after the ball took a ricochet off a defender to score Rangers final try of the game. A Hartley penalty shortly afterwards all but clinched the points.

Saints staged a sustained and productive comeback and the eye-catching Andrew Graham reduced the deficit with an unconverted try 10 minutes from the end.

Another Hartley penalty closed the home sides account, before the tireless and unyielding Richard Nicholson strode in for Nichs fifth try of the evening with two minutes remaining on the clock. Andrew Hodgkinson added the conversion.

Egremont spokesman Stephen Bowes was full of praise for both teams.

"It was an excellent game played in the best possible spirit. "Whatever you want to see in a game of Rugby League was there, a great advert for the game.

"St. Nicholas competed on equal terms and in the end it was the goalkicking which proved decisive.

"From Egremont's point of view they probably lost a little bit of their shape when Dave Richardson replaced himself at half-time.

"We had quite a few under-18s in the team and they seemed to miss Dave's guidance during the second forty minutes."