Seaton Rangers earned high praise and thanks from the Cumberland ARL management committee at the weekend.

At short notice, they had been asked to play in the Cumbria Men’s League top four semi-final despite having only finished fifth.

But, when Walney Central said they were unable to raise sufficient players, the committee turned to Seaton to fulfil the fixture at league winners Hensingham.

It was a brave effort, too, from Seaton as they went down 28-18 against a side which had not lost a league game ALL season.

Although it was 18-6 at half-time, Seaton deserved much credit for winning the second half 12-10.

The Hensingham tries were scored by Chris Smith (2), Jamie Martin, Jake Bradley and Todd Woods. Marc Bainbridge kicked four goals.

For Seaton, there were tries for John Carl Bryan, Miguel Blanco-Charters and Liam Wood. Mark Walker (2) and Kieran Mewse kicked the goals.

The other semi-final proved to be a good, hard game in which the 2016 champions Distington triumphed 30-22 against Ellenborough.

Again, that represented a great second-half effort by the losers as Elbra had trailed 24-4 at the interval.

The Distington tries were scored by Clayton Sutton (2), Stephen Conway, Aiden Worthington and Greg Bedford. Sutton landed five goals.

The Elbra try scorers were Rhys Burr, Zac Olstrom, Andy Ostle and Jordan Ostle. Michael Hill kicked three goals.

Hensingham will now meet Distington in the CML Top Four final on Saturday, September 16.

In the Iggesund Cumberland League, Kells A were comfortable winners over Cockermouth 48-4.

They had won by a similar margin over the Titans four days earlier to clinch the league title.

This time, the tries were scored by Ryan Doran (2), Jordan Herve (2), Harry Watson, Adam Hodgson, Kieran Halcrow, Paul Culnean and Aaron Burns. Doran kicked six goals.

Cockermouth’s only try came in the second half from Charles Van den Bosch.

In the other semi-final, Egremont A edged a thriller at Aspatria 26-22.

Egremont have had the upper hand this season, beating Aspatria in both league encounters and they were able to complete a hat-trick in a see-saw game.

The first 20 minutes were nip and tuck with Egremont looking strong in the pack, particularly through Craig McCulloch and Quinn Wright.

They opened the scoring on 25 minutes when Ben Walker got over the whitewash and Joe Bold converted.

Egremont scored again three minutes later when a huge bomb by Bold was spilled by Aspatria winger Gary Armstrong, and Albert McKay seized on the loose ball to score. Bold converted.

Aspatria showed plenty of spirit and, after some sustained pressure on the Egremont line, powerful front rower Brad Bouch got over to open the Hornets’ account on 37 minutes. Captain Luke Johnson added the goal.

The interval seemed to do Aspatria no harm and they levelled the scores on 49 minutes, courtesy of a Mark Irwin try and a Johnson goal.

The Aspatria pack was starting to win the arm wrestle and Luke Baker was prominent in the second half as he made excellent yardage every time he ran the ball. The pressure told in the end and a wicked bounce from a Johnson kick was gathered by Ellis Nixon to score an unconverted try.

Egremont looked very tired at this point with the influential Walker and second-rower Elliott off with injuries.

Walker’s return to the field seemed to give the Rangers side a lift and they levelled when Jack Murray scored on 66 minutes.

It was Walker who scored on 70 minutes to put Egremont in front and James Newton added another on 76 minutes, after a wonderful pass from Bold.

Aspatria finished strongly and Irwin grabbed his second try which Johnson quickly converted but time ran out.

Kells A will meet Egremont A in the Iggesund Cumberland ARL final on Friday, September 15.