The CARLA Cup produced two cracking games and in the end only two points separated the teams in each tie.

Cockermouth ran out 26-24 winners at home to Egremont A to earn themselves a semi-final visit to either Lowca or Broughton Red Rose. They will be playing tomorrow night due to no referee being available for Saturday’s game.

After leading at half-time 20-12, Cockermouth just held on as Egremont won the second-half 12-6. Jack Clark had a key role for the Titans, finishing with two tries and three conversions, while also getting over the whitewash were Leam Wild, Matthew Jackson and Matt Skillen.

For Egremont, Jack Thompson, Mitch Edwards, Richard Farrer and Albert McKay crossed for tries with Brandon Groggins converting three.

Egremont’s Kevin Brown was appreciative of the qualities served up in the game and said it was worthy of any final.

In another exciting contest at Flimby, a young Kells side, (with the exception of veteran Paul Halcrow on the wing) overcame a 14-12 half-time deficit to run out winners by 30-28 and earn themselves a home tie in the semi-final against Aspatria, who had a bye in the first round.

Flimby were first to score on just three minutes when straight from the scrum Dean Scholey timed his pass to perfection to put Lee Hogarth through a gap out wide. This was quickly followed by Grant Underwood producing a storming run to beat the Kells defence and score a second unconverted try.

End to end rugby meant it was inevitable that Kells would score, and Ryan Doran split the Flimby defence to race under the posts for a try which he converted himself.

Just after the half-hour, Flimby’s Connor Wilson increased the home side’s lead, when he burrowed his way over from acting half-back, giving Scholey an easy conversion, and Flimby a 14-6 lead.

However, right on the stroke of half time up popped Kells’ Mason Lewthwaite with a try, converted by Doran to reduce the deficit to two points.

The second half was a see-saw battle right to the very end. With 50 minutes gone, came the “try of the game – scored by probably one of the oldest men still playing Amateur Rugby League” when 50-odd-year-old Paul Halcrow, side stepped the Flimby winger and raced 30 yards to touch down and give Kells the lead in the game for the first time.

However, within five minutes Flimby had regained the lead through a Ryan Williams try which Scholey converted.

On 67 minutes, Kells took the lead once again through scrum-half Kieran Halcrow, who raced under the sticks unopposed for another converted try.

However five minutes later Flimby were back in front at 24-22, following a move across field which ended in Darren Pape touching down in the corner.

With 78 minutes on the clock, and Flimby on the attack, Doran was the hero for Kells when he managed to intercept a Flimby pass and race under the sticks giving himself an easy conversion.

Three minutes into injury time Kells were awarded a penalty which Doran kicked as extra insurance.

With time running out, Flimby got the ball wide, and Scholey touched down in the corner, giving himself a mammoth touchline kick to take the game into extra-time. Unfortunately for Flimby, the kick was wide and with no time remaining Kells went home with the win.

In the Cumbria Men’s League Hensingham have been playing catch-up and two quick victories have made them favourites to lift their first title.

In midweek they beat Seaton 18-8, given a stern test by their hosts who were on terms 6-6 at the break.

The Seaton try was scored by Stephen Dawes and the goals were kicked by Kieran Mewse and Mark Walker.

For Hensingham there were tries for Craig Branthwaite (2), Todd Wood and Gavin Maudling. Marc Bainbridge added one conversion.

It was a lot easier on Saturday when Hensingham beat the bottom side Ulverston 78-12 after building-up a 38-6 lead by half-time.

They scored 14 tries with both Josh Rogerson and Todd Woods claiming hat-tricks. Both Chris Smith and Jay Rossi grabbed a brace and the other touchdowns came from Callum Tunstall, Ben Rogerson Sam Rossi and Marc Bainbridge

Bainbridge landed eight goals and Steven Smith kicked three.

For Ulverston there were tries by Marc Storey and Matty Storey with a goal each by Marc Storey and Joel Smith.

Two other games did not take place on Saturday as both Glasson and Wath Brow A were unable to raise enough players. Consequently Walney and Ellenborough respectively were awarded 24-0 victories.