January 5, 2001

By Steve Coulter

A STEADY week-end thaw, miraculously saved half the scheduled Cumberland Amateur Rugby League programme, including vital top-four clashes at Wath Brow and Westfield.

Seaton Rangers home game against St. Nicholas was the only game affected in the Division One, but the Second Division and Alliance didn't fare as well, with fixtures at Broughton Red Rose, Maryport, Penrith, St. Nicholas and Wigton all failing to beat the freeze.

WATH BROW underlined their Youngers Scotch Bitter Cumberland League championship credentials with an assured, if not completely dominant performance in brushing aside Hensingham 30-4.

From super-cool full-back Gavin Curwen, through to loose-forward Carl Rudd, there wasn't a poor Hornets performance. With a marauding Jony Moore and Mark Troughton leading the way in a superb Hornets forward display, there was only ever going to be one result.

But while the pack stole the show, It was the returning Andrew Hocking who broke Hensingham's back.

The diminutive half-back threw critical passes which resulted in Hornets building up a comfortable 14-4 half-time lead. Hocking was a revelation - fading across the ruck and picking up runners with short passes the Hensingham defence simply couldn't read.

The reliable left-boot of full-back Gavin Curwen edged Wath Brow in front after four minutes when referee Neil Byers penalised Hensingham for ripping the ball.

Hensingham's early attack looked more constructive and indeed they took a 4-2 lead on the 15 minute mark through the resourceful Lee Shilton. But it was short lived and a second Curwen penalty for lying-on, levelled matters after 20 minutes.

With Hensingham displaying a defiant defensive stance, it took the intuitive skills of Hocking to conjure a breakthrough. It came in the 37th minute when he tracked his own inch perfect kick through, to score the opening try of the game.

Two minutes later and Hocking had virtually sealed the win. The ball was swung wide and with Scott Anderson and Neil Stewart prominent, Hocking flashed in for his second touchdown. Curwen added the extras for a 14-4 interval lead.

With the steadying influence of the vastly experienced Carl Hewer, displaying his full repertoire of skills, the visitors tried in vain to claw their way back into contention.

Hornets however, forced the issue on the hour and intense pressure finally buckled Hensingham's huge defensive effort and quick-hands saw Gary Elliot scamper over for an unimproved try.

Five minutes later and Hocking was again involved as he fed skipper Ian Rooney, who in turn scythed through and with the line beckoning, flipped the ball to the supporting Craig Johnston who finished off in style. Curwen added the goal.

Carl Rudd wrapped up the points just before time, with a Ryan Giggs style dribble before touching down. Curwen popped over the conversion.

ELLENBOROUGH Rangers expressed themselves to the full, with six superb tries, a couple of which were absolute gems in a 34-12 victory at Westfield.

And there could have been at least three more, had it not been for the scrambling, and determined, last-minute defence of a Graeme McKenzie led Westfield.

Coach McKenzie, introduced himself at the start of the second-half after his charges had committed footballing suicide in a depressing opening forty minutes.

Ellenborough scored twenty-two points in the first half-hour. In most of that time they held the upper hand territorially and in the amount of possession they commanded. And they had all the answers in attack.

They turned the ball inside smartly, they threw it wide when the time was right. And they controlled possession in a fashion sadly missing on occasions this season.

Stand-off Eddie Robinson stamped his class on the match with yet another top-notch performance. He toiled solidly in defence and took the ball forward with vigour. His ball distribution, especially when surrounded by opposing defenders, was outstanding.

It took Rangers just 59 seconds to put points on the board, scrum-half Phil Brown slicing through down the right hand side with Westfield stranded.

Ellenborough's superiority was evident all over the field in the opening exchanges and it was no surprise when second-rower Jason Moore crossed on 19 minutes. Robinson's conversion stretched the lead to ten points.

Four minutes later and Rangers struck again through prop-forward Paul Heaney, with Westfield looking decidedly jaded. Robinson tagged on the goal.

Robinson strode over himself for try number four on 27 minutes. He knocked over the conversion and at 22-0 the game was over as a contest.

Wests showed early enthusiasm in the second-half, but when forward Peter Bewick went in for the first of three Rangers second-half tries, their was little they could do to combat a combination in its most devastating form.

Westfield gained some consolation with tries through scrum-half Josie Hewer and hooker David Pettit, both converted by stand-off Mark Rooke. Gradually, though, the Ellenborough vanguard prevailed and further scores from Simeon Gilmour and Mark Tubman, both converted by Robinson, compounded a miserable afternoon for the home side.

Westfield coach Graeme McKenzie was philosophical about the result. "We have to take the positives from the game and Dave Pettit, who is still learning the game after switching codes was man-of-the-match, which was pleasing in itself.

"Lee Hunter was again outstanding and just keeps producing the goods, week after week.

"We still have a forward shortage, but by the same token Ellenborough are struggling for backs.

"Once we get everyone back we will be alright," he said.

Ellenborough player-coach Jonty Gorley was happy with the win and also the fact that they had a full compliment of substitutes to use.

"It made a difference being able to use the interchange fully, being able to bring the likes of Peter Bewick and Kevin Clark on gives the other lads the chance of a breather and makes it so much easier.

"We have a very big month ahead of us with the National and Challenge Cup games looming, so it was nice to get a win at the start.

"Everyone is looking forward to the cup games and we will give a good account of ourselves and hopefully the results will follow."

FABULOUS super-sub Stephen Long inspired Egremont Rangers to a 30-10 victory over a spirited Wigton.

The Rangers ace weighed in with a stunning try and there was another two from Andrew Little, who also helped deny the east-Cumbrians a first win of the season.

Egremont dominated from the start, they looked metres faster than their opponents, back and forward. And realistically, should have had the game safely tucked away by half-time.

Wigton, however, kept battling and completely against the run of play play took the lead with a try after 16 minutes. A short grubber kick from loose-forward Paul Harrison was pounced on by winger Wayne Southward for the opening score.

Egremont continued to to enjoy territorial advantage, but buoyed by their early success the visitors grew in confidence. Scrum-half John Hodgson was proving troublesome to Rangers with a series of long accurate kicks, relieving tremendous pressure and continually driving the home offence backwards.

Rangers only tangible reward from a frustrating first-half came via a penalty right on the stroke of half-time from full-back Darren Block.

Four minutes into the second period and Wigton extended their lead with a try from the ever alert Steve Carruthers, again, a short kick from Harrison unlocking the home defence. It was rough justice on Egremont, with a blatant knock-on and an equally questionable pass in the build-up going unnoticed. Hodgson landed the conversion for a 10-2 advantage.

Egremont's response was both immediate and clinical, centre Little accepting an opening engineered by prop-forward John Young after 46 minutes to streak in for a try. Block's conversion dragged the score back to 8-10.

Long, who had posed problems for Wigton, from the moment he was introduced off the bench midway through the first-half, finished off a flowing movement on 56 minutes to give Egremont the lead for the first time. Block's successful kick saw Rangers 14-10 ahead.

The cunning Stephen Morris threw a clever inside pass just after the hour for Little to claim his second touchdown, and with Wigton visibly tiring Egremont bombarded the visitors line incessantly, resulting in three tries in the last five minutes.

A 60 metre break by Long, supported by Little, saw Morris go between the posts unhindered after 75 minutes. Morris then turned provider three minutes later to send Young in for a great touchdown, and substitute winger Kevin Brown rounded things off with a score right on time. Block added the extras to all three.

Egremont spokesman Stephen Bowes picked-out Wigton's Mark Deans for special mention. The Great Britain Under-21 International was playing his first game since sustaining a double arm fracture last season. "He came off the bench to make an immediate impact and put in a terrific tackling stint, said Bowes.

"For Egremont Stephen Long also came on to produce his usual hard running game and his presence made a big difference.

"Darren Block, steady at the back also contributed greatly to Egremont's success."

A STUNNING four try haul from boom Kells middle-back Ian Brannon helped steer the Welfare Ground side to third place in Division One, with a convincing 54-14 victory over Glasson Rangers.

Brannon put the hosts in front as early as the second minute with a try wide-out on the left. And when winger Carl Kirkbride followed six minutes later with a touchdown round behind the posts, improved by Dean Bragg.

Glasson never looked remotely capable of repeating their 31-28 victory when the two sides' met in September.
Rangers fell further behind on 18 minutes when experienced scrum-half Paul 'Chipper' Graham jinked his way over between the posts. Bragg's conversion extended the lead to 16-0.

Stand-off Chris Brannon emulated brother Chris, by scoring the try of the game after 21 minutes. Receiving the ball on last tackle, he hoisted the ball high and was first there to regather on the half-way line, before racing clear to touch down between the posts for a magnificently executed score. Bragg again added the goal.

With Glasson reeling, centre Darren Wilson followed his own kick-through the defensive line three minutes later to extend Kells advantage to 26 points.

The visitors finally got on the scoreboard nine minutes before the interval when stand-off Greg Rowley produced a little piece of individual magic to score a scorcher of a try - racing 70 metres direct from the base of the scrum, he also tagged on the goal.

Any hopes of a sustained Glasson revival after the break evaporated in a 13 minute spell in which Ian Brannon completed his hat-trick with unconverted tries in the 49th and 52nd minutes.

Exciting young hooker Kevin Agnew pushed the score to 38-6 when he burrowed over from close range after 59 minutes.

Glasson rallied briefly and were rewarded with a double strike from outstanding centre Mark Smith who crossed in the 64th and 67th minutes - the second, a terrific 40 metre effort.

Kells hit back immediately and Ian Brannon crossed for his fourth touchdown three minutes later.

A final flourish by the home side saw emerging young winger Scott Lofthouse get his name on the scoresheet when he kicked ahead on last tackle to score a great opportunist try. Substitute prop Les Brown followed in the final minute of the game, side-stepping the Rangers full-back to cap a powerful Kells performance. Graham converted both.

Kells spokeman Russell Lofthouse was obviously pleased with the manner and margin of victory. "The lads showed no signs of any hangover from the Cumbria Cup final deafeat and turned in a good all-round team performance, he said.

"Chris McKee had an outstanding game up front, with Ian Brannon's four tries giving him the edge as pick of the backs."

ANOTHER four-try haul from Lowca scrum-half Lee Allen, shot the former Workington Town professional to the top of the tryscoring charts as the home side pulled off an amazing 40-20 victory against Second Division title favourites Wath Brow Hornets 'A.'

There was double cause for celebration in the hosts dressing room after Lee Weighman's six goals also proppelled him to the head of the goalkicking table.

Wath Brow lost some of their direction when influential hooker Neil McCartney was forced to retire after five minutes with a dislocated shoulder. But Lowca, ahead 26-8 at the break were good value for the win.

The deceptively clever Allen created most of Lowca's attack and Hornets had little to counter him on the day.

Loose-forward Gary Haile, prop Philip Anderson and winger Wayne Johnstone added tries for Lowca, while Jonny Lopez, two, Matthew Whalley, Bleu Robinson and Paul Farrell crossed in reply for Hornets.

Stuart Ennis and hooker Graeme Lowrey gave Allen great support in an excellent all round team performance.

HENSINGHAM 'A' look certain to take the Alliance League title after overcoming nearest challengers Kells 'A' 28-8.

Leading 12-0 at the half-way stage, Hensingham pulled away in the second-half to open a six point gap at the top of the table.

The home side scored tries through Craig Woodend, two, Paul Morgan, Mark Miller and Neil Starkey. Dean Laverick landed four goals.

Kells scored second-half consolation tries from Scott Farmer and Stephen Mattinson.