Last updated 19:40, Thursday, 10 April 2008

THE battle for the John Smith’s Cumberland League division one title has gone right down to the final games.

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Seaton’s Duncan Moyle tries to reach the Distington line

After Ellenborough recorded two mid-week victories last week - 44-0 over Broughton Red Rose and 22-10 over Glasson - leaders Kells re-imposed themselves on Saturday.

Kells beat their Whitehaven neighbours Hensingham 24-16. Hensingham stay second though they are also under some pressure from Ellenborough.

The Maryport-based side, the only team who can overtake Kells, played Maryport on Wednesday night and tomorrow take on Glasson Rangers.

See the back page for details of this week’s mid-week games.

Last Saturday Hensingham were 12-10 ahead at half-time, but Kells had the better of the second period and closed with two tries by Barry Boyd, with Kevin Agnew, David Dickinson and Stephen Kirkbride also crossing and Ryan Robb kicking two goals.

Craig McAvoy, Ryan Douglas and Gavin Maudling touched down for the home side and Jamie Sharpe added a couple of conversions.

Champions Seaton appear intent on a Top Four berth and continued their fine recent run with a 36-10 success at Distington.

Richard George and Stephen Hodgson scored two tries apiece, there were touchdowns for James McKay, Nicky Williamson and Gareth Key while Duncan Moyle landed four goals.

Distington, 20-6 adrift at the break, responded with touchdowns for Daniel Dryden and Aiden Worthington, one of which Clayton Sutton improved.

In division two third-placed Lowca enjoyed a 24-16 win over champions Cockermouth.

Andrew Harper and David Scott gave Lowca a great start with tries converted by Keith Campbell, but the pendulum appeared to have swung towards Cockermouth when Craig Fisher improved touchdowns for Tom Lindsey and Lee Woods to restore parity at half-time.

Lowca, though, steadied themselves and sealed victory when Graham Lowry and John Sparks popped over and Campbell maintaining his 100 per cent record with the boot.

Mark Haycock’s late try was simply too little, too late, for the champions.

Lee Jardine was a central figure with four goals and a drop goal as Salterbeck Storm won 21-20 at Frizington.

The Storm’s touchdowns were credited to Jason Graham, Ryan McClure and Andrew Bezusko while Wayne Burns scored a try and two goals for Frizington and Craig Tyson, Mark Batty and Stuart Graham crossed the whitewash.

Results - John Smith’s Cumberland League division one: Distington 10 Seaton Rangers 36, Hensingham 16 Kells 24.

Division two: Lowca 24 Cockermouth 16, Frizington 20 Salterbeck Storm 21.

Fixtures - John Smith’s Cumberland League division one: Glasson Rangers v Ellenborough, Maryport v Seaton.

Dale Campbell Savours Cup semi- finals: Frizington v Cockermouth, Egremont v Salterbeck.