Aspatria’s Irving scores vital try in Cumbria U20s win
Last updated 19:44, Thursday, 28 February 2008
CUMBRIA scored their first win in the County U20 Championship when they beat Northumberland 18-15 at Aspatria on Sunday.
It represented a good come-back by the gritty Cumbrians as they were 15-6 behind into the last quarter of the game.
With 15 minutes remaining, Aspatria prop Mark Irving picked up at the back of a ruck and drove over in the corner to bring his side within a score.
Cumbria then dominated from the restart and when they won a line-out close to the Northumberland line, Irving drove on and Matthew Threlkeld peeled away to drive over for the winning try. Carlisle fly-half Glen Weightman adding the conversion to complete the scoring.
Lancashire were 17-7 winners against Cheshire but defending champions Yorkshire had their game postponed when Durham couldn’t raise a team.
It was a much-reduced league programme on Saturday with Aspatria, Workington and Wigton among the first teams not playing.
Most of the action centred around the Cumbria League as Keswick were anxious to avoid another banana skin at Creighton, where they came unstuck last year. They came through to win 27-11 with a bit in hand.
The unbeaten league leaders opted to play against the very strong wind in the first-half and fell behind when Dan Greenslade kicked a penalty.
But Keswick were playing some excellent rugby and it was no surprise when they went in front.
Michael Branthwaite touched down in the the corner and despite a difficult wind Mark Ireland landed the conversion.
Jamie Mckenzie got the next try after a zig-zag run and then Greenslade added a second penalty for Creighton.
In the second half Keswick produced some outstanding rugby.
Ireland kicked an early penalty and then McKenzie worked his way through a static defence to fashion an opening and finish off well.
Good pressure on the Creighton line ended with Smith scoring the fourth try which Ireland converted.
To their credit Creighton came back well as Keswick started making mistakes and were rewarded with a consolation try.
Netherhall had the added satisfaction of keeping a clean sheet when they beat a big BAE Barrow team 23-0 at Maryport to stay second in the Cumbria League.
It was a bruising encounter on a muddy, wet pitch where for the first 30 minutes there was no score, with both defences on top.
Aspatria Eagles continued their good run of form with a second successive victory.
Following the hard-earned 22-20 win over promotion-chasing Whitehaven the Eagles came out on top 24-7 in the derby clash at Lowmoor Road against Wigton Wanderers.
Aspatria chose to play with the very strong wind behind them so might have been a little disappointed only to turn round 10-0 to the good.
Both tries were scored by South Africa scrum-half Heinrich Jonker who proved to be a class act on the day and man of the match. He scored his first try after darting from the back of a ruck and he added his second when he again showed good pace to finish off after the Aspatria forwards had mauled themselves into a good position.
Wigton dominated for the first 20 minutes of the second half but Aspatria held them out with some tough defence.
Although play became a bit more even it was Wigton who made the break-through score on 70 minutes when Paul Brough drove over and Andrew Raines added the conversion.
But after getting themselves back into the game they were left kicking themselves when Aspatria scored a crucial third try right from the restart.
Again it was Jonker who finished off but this time Jack Clegg added the conversion.
Two minutes from the end that man Jonker rounded off a memorable day when he scored his fourth try in the corner and Clegg added a superb conversion.
Down at the bottom Egremont scored their fourth win of the season, beating Workington Steelers 15-3 at Bleach Green.
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 only late on 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 more difficult 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.
Fixtures - North Two
East: Old Crossleyans v Aspatria. North Lancs Cumbria: Wigton v Didsbury Toc H.
Cumbria: Aspatria Eagles v Netherhall, BAE Barrow v Cockermouth, Keswick v Gosforth Greengarth, Moresby v Wigton Wanders, Workington Steelers v Creighton.
