Rugby union: Cumbria League

Last updated 15:49, Wednesday, 27 February 2008

LAST week, Whitehaven were on the wrong end of a shock in the Cumbria League when they went down 22-20 at Aspatria Eagles.

This time it was Moresby who came out on top, beating the promotion contenders 12-3 at the Playground.

Moresby got off to a great start when they scored after only five minutes. The ball was worked across the field from a line-out, moved back again and ex-winger Ian Johnstone, asked to play prop for only the second time in his career, sold two dummies before crashing over in the corner.

Stephen McConnell reduced the arrears with a penalty but before half-time Moresby scored a second try. They again threw the ball wide from a line-out before Lee Richardson put in a clever reverse kick for Gary Johnston to collect and score. Fearon converted.

Whitehaven had the wind behind them in the second-half but rarely put any concerted pressure on the Moresby defence who tackled superbly.

Down at the bottom, Egremont scored their fourth win of the season, beating Workington Steelers 15-3 at home.

They scored two tries in the first-half but the game was back in the balance when the Zebras reduced the arrears with a penalty. It was late when Egremont made the game safe by scoring a third try.

Winger Declan McKenna cut in from the flank to score the opening try and then a 25-yard maul by the Egremont forwards got them close enough for Jude Barton to get over for the try.

In the second-half, Jonathan Howarth missed a penalty for the Steelers but he made amends soon afterwards by putting over a tougher kick.

It was nip and tuck for a while and there were Egremont groans when Barton missed a penalty in front of the sticks. But from the next phase, the home side applied enough pressure for Jack Kelly to get over for the match-clinching try.

Gosforth Greengarth’s recent winning run was ended by Moresby and they suffered another defeat, this time 18-3 at home by Millom.

There wasn’t much between the two sides in the first-half and the 3-3 half-time score-line was a fair reflection as both defences did well in soaking up pressure so scoring chances were limited.

David Holmes kicked Gosforth Greengarth ahead with a penalty, which was cancelled-out before the break by the visitors. Millom went ahead soon after the restart with a penalty as slowly they started to get on top.

When a Gosforth Greengarth penalty failed to find touch on the hour, Millom ran the ball back very effectively and with the help of a couple of missed tackles scored under the posts. The try was converted.

Ten minutes from the end, Millom scored a second try and, although they had two players sin-binned in the last two minutes, there wasn’t time for Gosforth Greengarth to mount a recovery.

On Saturday, Gosforth Greengarth travel to Keswick; Millom host Whitehaven and Moresby entertain Wigton Wanderers.