Last updated at 13:20, Monday, 28 November 2011

Kells will go head-to-head with Walney Central to contest this season’s BARLA Iggesund Cumbria Cup final.

Kells’ Steve McGrady drives into the Distington defence

The duo booked their places in the prestigious final, after edging through tight semis on Saturday.

Kells just had enough in the bag to hold off a determined Distington and head into the final.

Blustery conditions on Kells’ west coast pit pitch did not deter Distington as they went to try to make history in a first victory against Kells.

Kells withstood a physical game to win 8-4, Distington playing hard and straight. Kells, against the wind, withstood a oncoming Distington to open the scoring in the second half.

Five minutes had passed when Lewis Smith touched down with the conversion missed and shortly after the evergreen Steve McGrady scored the home side’s second try to make it 8-0.

But, with 15 minutes remaining, Distington struck back with a try for Steve Clark, again the conversion was missed but it was game on.

Distington kept pressing and with two minutes left, Troy Armstrong knocked on at acting half on the Kells’ 20-metre line. Kells took advantage and kicked dead and the referee blew to call to an end a good, hard, physical game.

The other semi between Walney Central and Barrow Island was at 8-8 at half-time but it was Walney who pulled away in the latter stages to take the clash 20-12.

First published at 11:31, Monday, 28 November 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk