Cumbria League

Last updated at 11:04, Thursday, 07 February 2008

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Not only that, but the 15-5 win at BAE Barrow was the first time Greengarth had done the double over the south Cumbrian side in living memory.

Both teams played their best rugby against the wind with Gosforth Greengarth scoring all three of their tries in the first-half.

BAE Barrow responded well against the very strong wind and virtually camped in the opposition half for most of the second period – but crucially could only cross once.

The visitors got off to a flying start and took the lead early on with a fine try by Matt McGoogan.

The outside centre went on a surging run which took him past four players to score in the corner.

It wasn’t a day for kicks and Sean Madden was off target with the conversion attempt and he also missed with a penalty on 20 minutes.

The second try came from some superb play by Greengarth.

They moved the ball from a scrum and then after about eight phases of play Robin Sparshott broke down the short side and had Mark Eastwood in support to take the pass and go over.

Five minutes before half-time McGoogan broke away and Madden was there in support to offload the ball to Joe Murphy who scored in the corner.

It was a different game in the second-half when BAE Barrow came out all guns blazing.

Greengarth were forced back time and time onto their own line and only some heroic defence kept-out the home side.

They could only manage one try despite almost total domination as Greengarth grittily hung on for a famous victory.

One of their players Steve Brown said: “It was a magnificent effort and a great way to record our third win in a row. We will be having a good celebration after Saturday’s game with Wigton Wanderers.

“We have some players who have been with the club a long, long time and none of them could ever remember beating Vickers twice in a season.”

Netherhall outclassed a Wigton Wanderers team 62-0 to go back into second place in the Cumbria League.

League leaders Keswick weren’t playing while Whitehaven, who had been second, were left idle when the game at Cockermouth was called-off.

Against Wigton’s second string the Maryport side dominated all aspects of play from the first whistle to the end.

It started off well when Paul Atkinson kicked a penalty on five minutes which was quickly followed by a fine individual try by Anthony Nicholson.

Nicholson darted down the blind side to beat two defenders to score in the corner and Atkinson put over a fine conversion.

Carl Bell, playing at full back entered the line at pace and scored a superb try on 20 minutes and from the re-start Wigton were soon on the back foot from the boot of Atkinson.

Ian Gorley was wining most of the line outs and after another good take Liam Thomason made solid ground before being tackled.

Gorley picked up and slipped the pass to Ryan Robertson, the burly prop who raced into the gap and sprinted 20 metres to score. Atkinson converted to make it 22.0 at half time.

The second half was even more one-sided as Jonathan Burnyeat, Atkinson, Andy Southwell, Nicky Dixon, Lee Towers and Bell went in for the six tries which carried them over the half century mark. Atkinson converted five of them.

Bell was man of the match with an excellent game at full back closely followed by Gorley in the second row.

Aspatria Eagles gained ample revenge for their early season loss to Creighton when they adapted to the muddy conditions far better than their opponents.

The Bower Park second string came-out on top 10-5 to keep them fourth bottom while Creighton stayed in fifth place.

For the first 25 minutes Creighton were on the back foot and starved of possession by the strong forward play of the home team.

Number eight Mark Bowe, who had been unable to travel with the first team because of work in the morning, had a strong game for the Eagles and Mike Hazlewood at scrum-half was always lively.

Stand-off Lee Holliday put the home side ahead with an early penalty and the first try of the game followed on 15 minutes.

Good driving by the forwards opened-up the Creighton defence and centre Walter Cloete finished-off close to the line. Holliday added the conversion. They were rewarded with a 10-0 interval lead courtesy of a try and penalty.

Creighton came back strongly in the second half but could only register the one try, by scrum half Chris Hind following a charged-down kick.

Try-scoring opportunities were at a premium on the heavy pitch and when Creighton bombed two good chances, Aspatria knew it was their day.

The home side were on top in the closing quarter but were unable to add to their advantage.

Outstanding for Creighton were debutant number eight Nick Sunnick and full back Dean Lambert.

A more experienced Moresby side gradually wore down younger Egremont opposition to record a 29-5 win and stay on the heels of the leading three clubs.

It was pretty tight in the first-half with Egremont defending well and going close to scoring.

Mark Long made a smart interception and had support from Mike Burrow. He made 30 yards but in trying to get a return ball away to Long was caught in two minds and the pass went to ground.

Five minutes before half-time Moresby broke the deadlock when young winger Raan Bragg went 25 yards for a try in the corner.

In the third minute of time added on Moresby increased their lead when Graham Callan picked-up at the back of a scrum and raced in from 15 yards. Dean Fearon added the conversion.

Gradually Moresby started to take control and were the dominant side in the second-half as Egremont were repeatedly forced onto the back foot.

On 55 minutes Dean Finley burst through to score the third try and seven minutes later William Burns followed him over.

Call and Bragg were constant sources of torment to Egremont but it was skipper Kyle McCurrie who went over for Moresby’s final try and this time Lee Richardson added the conversion.

To their credit Egremont kept plugging away and five minutes from the end scored a consolation try through Ryan Barton.

First published at 11:08, Monday, 28 January 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk