Wath Brow have replaced West Cumbrian rivals Egremont Rangers at the top of the National Conference Premier Division.

For while the Hornets were beating reigning champions Hunslet Club Parkside 18-13 neighbours Egremont were going down 18-14 in an epic struggle with another of the title contenders, West Hull.

Wath Brow had to come from behind to beat Parkside while Egremont let slip a 14 point lead against the Humbersiders, who are second in the table only on points difference.

Parkside had led 7-0 at the break thanks to all the points being scored in the last seven minutes of the half.

Jack McShane crossed for a try, which was converted by Danny Rowse, who then added a field goal from the last action before the interval.

The game was back on a knife edge six minutes into the second half when Callum Farrer crashed over for a Wath Brow try and Cole Walker-Taylor added the conversion.

Back came the visitors and they stretched seven points clear again when Ben Shulver scored a try which was improved by Jamie Fields.

But Wath Brow turned up the heat in the closing 15 minutes to win the game. Karl Dixon went over on 65 minutes and Walker-Taylor converted, before he added a penalty to give Wath Brow the lead for the first time.

At 14-13 the game wasn’t in the bag but a late try from Jay Weatherill clinched the points to push Wath Brow to the top.

That happened because Egremont couldn’t hang onto a lead at West Hull after racing 14 points clear in a brilliant first 15 minutes. By the break it was 18-14 to the hosts and despite the best efforts of both sides that’s how it stayed until the final whistle.

It really was a high-power start from the Cumbrians with three quick tries from Lewis Beckwith, Matty Bewsher and player coach John Paul Brocklebank, the final one converted by Bewsher.

Unfortunately it proved to be too much too soon for Rangers and it was West Hull who did the rest of the scoring.

Jamie Leigh (2) and Ben Arbon scored tries for the hosts and crucially Ryan Wilson was able to convert all of them.

It was nip and tuck in the second-half, but defences ruled and Egremont drop to third place in the table.

Kells are on a six-match losing run after that magnificent opening day win over champions Hunslet Club Parkside. The heaviest came on Saturday when what was admittedly a weakened side was beaten 58-2 at Underbank Rangers.

Kells actually led after eight minutes through a Tony Burns penalty but then Underbank took over, led by Alex Chatterton who scored five tries and Richard Pogson who claimed 26 points from three tries and seven goals.

In Division Three Hensingham held a 24-6 lead in their derby clash with Millom but had to settle for a point in the end as the south Cumbrians fought level. Hensingham, who had started the game bottom of the table, appeared to be in control throughout but Millom fought back well and levelled with a try from Anthony Dion two minutes from time.

Callum Morgan, Rory Henderson, Martin McMullen and Callum Sirkett scored the Hensingham tries and Sirkett kicked four goals. The other Millom tries came from Noah Robinson, Dom O’Brien, Tom Newbiggin and Dixon. Adam Kelly kicked two goals.