Two of Cumbria’s U14s rugby league clubs progressed in the BARLA National Cup, but the two U16s sides fell at the second hurdle in the race for glory.

Wath Brow Hornets U14s have reached the third round of the National Cup with a 24-12 win over Kells at the Hornets Nest, but not before Kells had a spirited second-half fightback claw back the Hornet’s first half lead.

Wath Brow, who had defeated Oldham St Annes in the first round, had the perfect start driving forwards in the first set, and Evan Sherwen collected a superb Billy Joe Towers kick and had just yards to run before diving over to touch down on two minutes.

In the early period the Hornets looked dominant, and Kells’ cause was not helped when star player Tyce Walmsley, only just returned from a broken arm, went off with an injury later discovered to be another fracture. Wath Brow extended their least when Joe Pringle stormed down the right wing, and a third try from Tom Banner after a 50m sprint on the left wing gave the Hornets a 12-0 lead at half time.

When Wath Brow opened the second half with a try from Billy Joe Towers which he converted himself, the 18-0 lead looked like game over for Kells. The visitors had other thoughts, and got right back into the game, and three unanswered tries from Jake Hodgson, Louie Nightingale and Ashton Hetherington left the score at 18-12.

The Brow had to dig deep, but sealed the win when Sherwen went over for his second try and Towers converted for a final scoreline of 24-12.

Wath Brow U16s played host to Myton Warriors in the BARLA U16s Cup, and whilst the visitors arrived with a depleted squad with three players sidelined because of illness and with just 12 fit to play, unfortunately for the Brow, those 12 were a force to be reckoned with.

From kick off it was clear that the lads from Hull had come to win and had a big, fit and fast side who opened the scoring with two tries and a conversion. Wath Brow got themselves themselves back in to the game and established a 12-10 lead at half time, but the lead was not to last.

The second half saw the visitors dominate with the Hornets who were pinned in to their own half for long spells, and Myton took the spoils with an ultimately convincing 12-26 win.

Hensingham U16s were also in National Cup action, facing a big and physical side from Dewsbury Celtic. The game was end to end, with good defence by both teams, but Hensingham gave away too many penalties, and despite tries from Adam Lancaster and two from Ben Pearce, went down to an agonisingly close 14-18 defeat.

In the U14s competition, Cockermouth Titans defeated a very good Wigan St Judes side at Highfield. The Titans took the lead when Coby Walker followed up his own chip kick over the St Judes’ defence to put the ball down, and Walker tagged on the extras with a great conversion. The Titans doubled their lead when George Robinson powered over the line for Titans second, and Walker again goaled from out wide for 12-0, but St Judes replied and at Half Time it was game on at 12-6. St Judes, now playing up hill at Highfield, got off to a good start when they scored and converted again to make it 12-12 and then took the lead when they crossed for an unconverted try. The Titans hit back, and Olly Muller capitalised on a disorganised Wigan defence and dummied his way over to score.

Later in the game with the score level at 16-16, Walker goaled to take Titans into the lead at 18-16. The Titan’s outstanding Max Bateson then set up Robinson to score in the corner, with a final scoreline of 22-16 to the Titans. In the final Cup game, Seaton Rangers U14s lost out 30-14 away at Siddal.