Last updated 19:38, Thursday, 03 April 2008

KESWICK are the new champions of the Cumbria League after a 19-13 win at Netherhall.

Mark Ireland scored a try for Keswick

There’s nothing better than winning a league title by clinching it in the back-yard of your nearest rivals and Netherhall look set to finish runners-up.

Played in very heavy conditions there was never going to be much between the two best teams in the league and the outcome was in doubt right to the end.

Netherhall set off well and they were the better team early on and twice went close to scoring. A superb defensive tackle by David Ray dislodged the ball close to the line and then a forward pass brought them back from a good attacking position.

Ben Brinicombe was having a fine game and made good ground into Keswick’s half where he fed Andrew Renney who was tackled high and Paul Atkinson slotted over the penalty for a 3-0 lead.

Keswick came back at them and when Netherhall’s scrum half Tony Nicholson was sin-binned for a high tackle the visitors scored two tries during the 10 minutes.

First John Hine sliced through for a try after throwing a clever dummy which was not spotted and then Mark Ireland went over for a second unconverted try.

At the start of the second half the exchange referee from Liverpool was blowing up for any little offence which was frustrating both teams.

The home side conceded a lot of penalties and Ireland kicked two of them to stretch the Keswick lead.

Netherhall came back well with good forwards drives by Ryan Robertson and Jonathan Burnyeat. This allowed the home backs to feed Carl Bell who sped down the right only to be tackled but he picked up a knock which saw him leave the fray.

He was replaced by Matt De-Bose who was soon on the score-sheet after Netherhall worked a smart blind-side move. Atkinson fed John Heaney who put De-Bose in at the corner.

Ireland then put over another penalty to give Keswick a 19-8 lead as Netherhall had Lee Towers sin binned for a high tackle.

Good work by Ian Gorley and Paul Dixon saw the home side win good turnover ball and when they worked another blind-side move Keswick hadn’t learnt from the experience as De-Bose scored his second try.

There were five minutes left for Keswick to survive and they did so for a deserved win and the title that went with it.

Cockermouth applied themselves in a difficult game at home to Millom and were disappointed to lose 17-7.

The visitors scored an unconverted try after six minutes and only some superb tackling kept them at bay until the 30th minute when once again their forwards scored a second try which was converted.

From this point, Cockermouth began playing with more urgency and when Matthew Jackson took the ball at pace to slice through the visitors defence he scored a superb try which Andrew Skillen converted.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Cockermouth living off a limited amount of clean possession and having to withstand a pounding by the Millom forwards.

Millom’s most likely route to a try was always going to be through their forwards and it was they who struck again to score the final try of the match.

In the clash of the second teams Wigton Wanderers beat Workington Steelers 24-7.

Wigton first team had lost to Kirkby Lonsdale on two occasions, in the league and the County Cup, so they were delighted to win the return North Lancs Cumbria game at Lowmoor Road 16-7.

Coach Malcolm Brown said: “All three games have been very close but the fact that we had to make six changes from the side which lost there in the cup, and we came through to win, emphasises the strength in the squad at this stage of the season.”

Wigton had the wind and rain behind them in the first-half and there was just a little concern at half-time that they only led 6-0 at the break.

Paul Branthwaite had kicked two penalties but Wigton had gone close to adding to their advantage on several occasions.

Tom Gardner just couldn’t get the ball down in the corner; Robert Marrs and Mark Thompson were both held up over the line and Sean Stephens was hauled down inches short.

Even against the wind in the second half Wigton had the better of things and it was against the run of play when Kirkby Lonsdale broke out to score a converted try and lead 7-6.

Midway through the half Wigton regained the lead when centre Stuart Dixon broke the line and raced 40 metres for a very good try which Branthwaite converted.

Wigton continued to have the better of things and a Branthwaite penalty gave them an extra cushion which they held on to comfortably.

If Wigton win their game in hand tomorrow at Upper Eden they will move ahead of Kirkby Lonsdale and Workington into third place.

Workington are a point better off than Wigton and a point behind Kirkby Lonsdale after their 17-0 home win over Fleetwood at the Ellis Sports Ground.

Fleetwood had the benefit of a strong wind in the first half but didn’t really impose themselves on the home side.

When they did make inroads the Zebras tackled extremely well and also were able to put together the more dangerous attacking options.

Mark Hunton was tackled just short but the winger was on hand to take a popped pass after a break by Kevin Harper and finish off with the only try of the first half.

Like Workington, the visitors also played well against the wind and were spirited opponents. The Zebras had to show a lot of commitment in defence to hold their lead.

Gradually, however, the home forwards began to turn the screw when they got a foothold in Fleetwood territory.

In the final quarter solid play by the Workington pack resulted in them getting in for two tries, both from close range by David Bowe and Carl Metherell. Harper was able to convert one of them.

Tomorrow sees the two semi-finals in the Story Cumbria Cup with Aspatria travelling to play Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal hosting Penrith.

Wigton have a re-arranged North Lancs Cumbria League game at Upper Eden.