Rugby union: Cumbria League

Last updated 09:56, Thursday, 01 May 2008

MILLOM christened their new lights in style last Wednesday with a record-breaking 90-5 win over BAE Barrow.

The Cumbria League fixture had been brought forward so that the improved floodlights could be used.

It was a night when everything went right for Millom as they were 50-5 ahead by half-time – and finished with 13 tries.

Ricky Kershaw led the way with five tries and he was followed over by Peter Moore (2), Paul Casson, Craig Mounsey, Ashley Lamont, Chris Park, Ian Cummings and Glen Cheshire.

Eighteen-year-old Lamont finished with 30 points as he also landed 11 conversions and a penalty.

Whitehaven won a hard-fought game at Creighton 18-8.

Creighton flanker Tim Parkinson crossed the line for the opening score after only seven minutes.

But the hosts suffered a huge blow after 15 minutes when number eight Daniel Smithson was sent of for abusive language.

Whitehaven embarked on a long spell of pressure in the Creighton half but saw several chances go astray in the first-half.

It was Creighton who finished the half stronger andwon a penalty which Rogers converted.

There was just enough time in the half for some Creighton indiscipline at the ruck to give Whitehaven their first chance of some points with a penalty which was gratefully accepted by Stephen McConnell.

Five minutes into the second half, Creighton suffered a further setback as centre Daniel Dudley was sent to the sin bin for an alleged high tackle.

It was this two man advantage that finally took its toll on Creighton, as some slick work by the Whitehaven backs sent winger Luke Scott in at the corner for their first try.

Now on level terms, Whitehaven began a long spell of pressure in the Creighton half and with 10 minutes to go the West Cumbrians finally got the score. Good work from the backs sent Steve McCourt overt at the corner.

This score took all the fight out of Creighton after playing the majority of the match with 14 men and there was just enough time for Whitehaven to seal the points with a fine team try combining forwards and backs.

It was started by a bizarre pass through his legs from scrum-half Scott Henderson and the same player rounded it off by scoring in the corner.

Moresby got back to winning ways when they beat Aspatria Eagles 38-16 after the Bower Park second string travelled with a weakened team.

Despite this, it was Aspatria who took the lead on two minutes from a penalty in front of the posts by Lee Holliday.

Moresby were having plenty of joy out wide against an inexperienced Aspatria back line and scored two tries through Billy Dalton, one of which was improved by Lee Richardson.

The Eagles forwards were coping well and kept the visitors in the hunt so that, on 30 minutes, fly-half Walter Cloete chipped over and after a couple of bounces gathered up to surge over the line for an unconverted try.

Moresby could see they were having success when they moved the ball wide and in the space of 10 minutes scored three more tries.

Dean Fearon (25), Gary Lofthouse (29) and Carl Robinson (35) all scored tries, two of which were converted by Richardson.

Holliday kicked a second penalty for Aspatria before the break.

Good forward play saw Cloete scramble over for his second try for the Eagles.

Moresby finished strongly and Gary Johnstone went over for a try, which Richardson converted but some excellent defence kept them at bay.

Egremont had a comfortable 34-0 home win over Wigton Wanderers.

They had used all their replacements when Chris Temple was injured but were still able to go on and maintain a clean sheet with a man down.

Egremont are getting some of their young players back from college and university and performances have improved as a consequence. They are hopeful of having some of them on a more regular basis next season.

Craig Peet opened the scoring after Ian Buchanan won an excellent line-out ball. The next score came after John Farrer gave Mike Burrows the chance to dummy his way through for a fine try which Chris Temple converted.

Burrows and Peet both added their second tries before half-time, and Daniel Barwise and Jude Barton added touchdowns after the break to complete the victory.

Cumbria League – Whitehaven v Gosforth Greengarth, Netherhall v Egremont, Aspatria Eagles v Millom