Last updated at 12:00, Monday, 23 July 2012

In a tough, enthralling National Conference League Division One encounter, Egremont Rangers beat Milford Marlins 18-6.

Both sides started strongly and on six minutes the Marlins were close to opening the scoring.

Centre Jones-Bishop hacked on a loose ball and would have been a certain scorer but for some brilliant chasing back and no amount of bravery by second-rower Matt Bewsher.

He managed to smother the ball with his body and regain his feet to thwart the try.

It was a hot day for rugby at Gillfoot Park and ideal conditions for an open flowing game, so both sides threw caution to the wind. But they both failed to take their try-scoring opportunities through wrong options or dropped balls.

Finally, on 21 minutes Milford centre Harding got on the end of a deft chip through to open the scoring, Fairhead added the conversion.

Egremont responded two minutes later when a smart step by John-Paul Brocklebank wrong-footed the Marlins defence and he fed the supporting Alistair Leak who sped away to score. Brocklebank levelled the scores with the conversion.

Egremont should have gone ahead when hooker Dan Telford made a scintillating break only for the pass to go to ground.

It wasn’t long before Telford was involved again. His really sharp hands from dummy half allowed prop Richard Farrar to waltz over. Brocklebank converted and at half-time the west Cumbrians led 12-6.

The second half started as the first with both sides enjoying good attacking moments.

Gibson from Milford was stopped short by some awesome home defence and then a Jack Stainton break, carried on by Rhys Davies, ended with Milford scrambling the ball out for a drop out.

The game had become a war of attrition now with high tackles and plenty of verbals to test the patience of the referee who controlled the game well. He had to speak to both skippers about controlling their troops.

Milford were pressing hard on 55 minutes when great hands by the visitors looked to have created a try in the left corner only for Sutton and Stainton to prevent it with a double tackle.

The game was being played at breakneck speed and on 62 minutes Paul Corkhill stepped his way through a tight gap to pass to Matty Palmer but his ball to Brocklebank was knocked on.

The next score in this Game was vital and it looked to be Milford’s after Brocklebank’s kick through was picked-up by speedy winger Mingham. He broke two tackles and sped up the touchline only to be thwarted by the flying Rhys Davies, who’s superb cover tackle put him in touch.

From the ensuing scrum Egremont gained field position in the Marlins’ 20 and a kick through was hunted down by Palmer who touched down for the clinching try, Brocklebank converted.

The try was well deserved by the Egremont second rower who had worked tirelessly throughout.

Egremont’s fine scrambling defence kept the Leeds’ side at bay and there were no further scores as they were able to move a step nearer a league and cup-winning double.

Official man of the match was Rhys Davies but he was hard pushed by the returning Matty Palmer.

First published at 11:28, Monday, 23 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk