October 13, 2001

By Steve Coulter

ONLY two of the five scheduled Jennings BARLA Cumbria Cup first round ties were completed on Saturday.

The North-Cumbrian derby between St. Nicholas and Wigton was a late casualty after heavy overnight rain in Carlisle, followed by a steady Saturday morning downpour, left the Gilford Park pitch unplayable.

A disappointed Saints secretary, Andrew Hodgkinson said: "These are the kind of games that everyone looks forward to, but postponements are something you come to expect and accept at this time of year.

"We will get together with Wigton and see when we can get the game played.

"One option would be to stage the game under the Carlisle Rugby Union club floodlights. They are very receptive to the idea and it's something we may put to Wigton.

"The prospect of a home tie in the next round against Barrow Island will be an added spur to us.

"They are a quality side and have started their North-West Counties Premier League campaign with four victories, so they will offer a stern test."

KELLS broke their pre-planned journey to the Grand Final at Old Trafford, to deliver a championship style knock-out of their own.

The Jennings Cumbria Cup's most successful side, with six wins since the competitions inception in 1982, negotiated the first hurdle with ease - dismissing North-West Counties Division Six side Hindpool Tigers 50-0.

Threatening skies that promised a deluge greeted the 11.30am kick-off.

That deluge came. Yet the players still played as if the field was lightning fast and there was little sign of slipperiness on the ball.

Hindpool, who crashed out of the competition last season, 104-8 at Hensingham, were no match for the visitors and the game as a contest was over inside 25 minutes.

Kells settled quickly and some adroit handling, saw veteran scrum-half, Paul 'Chipper' Graham, scoot in under the posts from 20 metres after 11 minutes, he added the goal for a six points advantage.

Some desperate defence by the home side kept the Kells attack at bay, but it was short lived, and star of the afternoon, hooker Kevin McNamara, powered over for the first of his three tries on 22 minutes. Graham again slotted over the conversion.

The visitors increased the pressure from the restart and McNamara grabbed his second touchdown when he outwitted the Hindpool cover and burrowed over from close-in. Graham added the goal, and at 18-0 the Copeland side were well on their way to the second-round.

A well-drilled visiting pack, completely on top at this stage, allowed the backs to enjoy plenty of opportunities and centre Ian Brannon obliged with a try after 33 minutes. Graham's attempt at goal went wide.

The highlight of the game came after 36 minutes when second-rower Robert Nicholson burst through a gap in a wilting Tigers defence on the half-way line, completely bamboozle the home full-back with an outrageous side step - much to the amusement of his colleagues - to score a sensational individual try. Graham converted, to bring the half to a close with Kells 28-0 ahead.

Kells faced the worsening elements in the second period, but continued in much the same manner as they had in the first forty minutes.

Five minutes into the second-half, Kells conjured another fine move on the right and full-back Simon Garner reacted instantly, to breach a static home defence. Graham again improved.

Prop-forward, Lee Rutherford got in on the act after 51 minutes, blasting over the Hindpool line for Kells seventh try of the day. Graham slotted over the conversion.

With the Tigers a tired and spent force, Simon Brannon came off the bench to add to their woes with a try after 67 minutes.

The only blot on a perfect day was a 71st minute red card, shown to Garner for an alleged high tackle during a rare Tigers raid.

McNamara completed his hat-trick, wide on the left, with three minutes remaining on the clock. Ryan Robb struck a magnificent touchline conversion to wrap up the win.

THE glowing reputation of Dennis Bibby in Cumbrian Rugby League circles was further enhanced with an inspirational five-star performance in Penrith's 42-18 Jennings Cumbria Cup victory over National Conference Division One outfit Askham, at Winters Park.

The ex-Workington Town professional played a key role in five of his sides seven tries and epitomised the Cumbrian's spirit with a shuddering hit in a one-on- one situation early in the game to save a certain try, and from that moment on Penrith were always in command.

The hosts weathered some early pressure from the Askham attack to grab a breakaway try from the industrious Darren Luck. Mark Brookes added the goal.

While the first-half was relatively even, Penrith did show glimpses of what was to come with some intelligent attack and rock-solid defence which had Askham under periods of severe pressure.

Midway through the half, Bibby scored a magnificent individual touchdown - his seventh of the season - from his own twenty. Brookes again converted, and when he struck a penalty shortly afterwards Penrith threatened a blitz.

Askham fought their way back with a series of raids on the home line and were rewarded 10 minutes from the break with an unconverted try from hard-working Steve Thompson.

A penalty on the stroke of half-time from the visitors Mike Alcorn, reduced the deficit to 14-6.

Penrith began the second period in ominously fluent style and coupled with an obvious desire, allied to far better pack discipline, extended their lead with a crushing try from ex-Carlisle Border Raider, Stuart Knubley. Brookes again added the extra two points.

With confidence high, the home side swept upfield again with some excellent ball movement, Craig Johnston romped through the defensive line for a decisive score. Brookes was on target again with the conversion.

Askham responded well and inched back into the game with two well-worked tries through the resourceful David High and a determined Ian Clough. Alcorn improving both.

It was however, Penrith's day and second tries from Luck and Knubley and a late strike from Darren Davies, all converted by Brookes saw the home side safely through to the second round.

Penrith official Brian Forrester was in upbeat mood after the game.

"It was a good open contest from start to finish, with both teams playing some excellent football.

"Askham are a good side and we had to be at the top of our game to come through. It was a lot closer than the score suggests.

"We have a great chance of making the quarter-finals now, although we wont be underestimating Salterbeck.

"You can't ask for anymore than a home draw and hopefully we can repeat todays performance," he said.

Distington and Great Clifton Lions were unable to raise teams for their respective ties against Seaton Rangers and Glasson Rangers and default scorelines of 18-0 were implemented.

THE BARLA Great Britain Under 23s, Cumbrian-based management duo of Gordon Robb and Roger Blair enjoyed further success at the South Leeds Stadium, Hunslet, last Friday.

A British squad, including Egremont's Paul Telford, Seaton's Mike Melville - an eleventh hour replacement for Maryport's Ian Ivison - came off the bench midway through the first-half, and Wath Brow pair, Craig Johnstone and Neil Stewart, who both celebrated their call-up with points, beat the Combined Services 26-22

A crucial try midway through the second-half from East Leeds scrum-half Philip Hasty secured victory for the Under 23s in a flowing contest.

Hasty's touchdown capped a tremendous personal performance, which included a first-half try, to earn him the personal accolade as Man of the Match.

But the 26-22 defeat was disappointing for the Combined Services who responded in great fashion to the coaching of Ray Unsworth with a cohesive performance in which few opportunities were wasted.

BARLA, too, made the most of their chances and left coach Chris Middlehurst contemplating an unbeaten record in charge of the Under 23s side.

In a evenly balanced encounter, BARLA responded to an early Lee Innes penalty with two tries for Wigan St Judes centre Gavin Corfield before the Services hit back with touchdowns for Kieron Kavanagh and Innes, who added a conversion.

Johnny Raithby restored the BARLA lead with a well-taken touchdown, goaled by Wath Brow Hornets stand-off Craig Johnstone, before Damian Clayton replied for the Services with an opportunist try.

But tries either side of the break for Hasty and Wath Brow's Neil Stewart swung the game BARLA's way. And although Combined Services rallied when Martin Johnson crossed, Innes adding a subsequent penalty, Hasty's second score proved to be the match-winner.

Teams:
BARLA Great Britain Under 23s: : Paul Telford (Egremont Rangers); Bryn Powell (Hunslet Warriors), Andy Robinson (Dewsbury Moor), Gavin Corfield (Wigan St Judes), Stuart Leake (West Hull); Craig Johnstone (Wath Brow Hornets), Phil Hasty (East Leeds); Paul Lupton (Millom), Graham Mallinson (Hull Dockers), Joe Dack (Walney Central), Neil Stewart (Wath Brow Hornets), Johnny Raithby (Dewsbury Moor), David Hales (Wigan St Patricks). Subs: Neil Percival (Halton Simms Cross), Simeon Hoyle (Siddal), Michael Melville (Seaton Rangers).

COMBINED SERVICES: Kieron Kavanagh (RAF); Mark Pocock (Army), Martin Johnson (Royal Navy), Richard Yeomans (Army), Lee Innes (Army); Sean Fanning (Army), Damian Clayton (RAF); Garry Windle (Army), Kevin Agnew (Army), Tim White (Army), Chris Richards (Royal Navy), Jordan James (Royal Marines), Anthony Cowburn (Army). Subs: Matthew Murray (Royal Navy), Martin Walker (Royal Navy), Lee Taylor (Royal Navy), Scott Andrews (RAF).