The first major clash of the 2018 season in the new-look Iggesund Cumberland League has been set-up nicely.

Hensingham and Distington are the only two sides in the Premier Division to have won both games so far.

On Saturday, they square up at Hensingham for what is clearly going to be one of the key games of the whole season.

Distington were hugely impressive at the weekend, blowing away Ellenborough 62-16.

By contrast, for the second game in a row, Hensingham had to work hard for their 26-12 home win over Glasson Rangers.

Distington had their game virtually put to bed by half-time when they led Elbra 36-6.

In the end they finished with ten tries, all converted by Kieran Worthington who also kicked a penalty.

On the try-scoring sheet were Bryan Ritchie (2), Jamie Friel (2), Shaun Adams (2), James Mottram, Greg Bedford, Aiden Worthington and Liam McNicholas.

Ellenborough could only respond with three tries from Luke Penrice, Jonty Hill and Craig Dowling. Two of them were converted by Jordan Ostle.

Up at Hensingham, it hadn’t gone to script for the 2017 Men’s league champions in the first half.

A determined effort from the visitors had seen them go in at the break with an 8-4 lead.

But Hensingham rallied and four second-half tries, to only one from Glasson, saw them home.

Dan Smith (2), Wayne Laverick, Gary Palmer and Whitehaven RL target Jake Bradley scored the Hensingham tries with three conversions from Ellis Postlethwaite.

The Glasson tries were scored by Matthew Burns, Keenan Winter and Danny Barker.

Two weeks ago, Aspatria opened their campaign with a 34-32 win at Flimby.

This time, the Hornets had the other side of the coin when they lost 26-24 at Lowca.

It was a win which put Lowca top of the table as they were able to hold on after leading 16-10 at the break.

The Lowca tries came from Declan McKenna, Emmerson Allen, Carrick Robb, Callan McGrady and James Taylor.

There were three conversions from Callum Sirkett.

The Aspatria tries came from Joe Kirkup (2), Ken Bowes, Ellis Nixon and David Wilson.

Two of them were converted by Luke Johnson.

In the other game in Division One, Flimby opened their account with a 66-4 win over Hensingham A.

There wasn’t much doubt about the outcome when Flimby led 38-4 at the break.

They scored 12 tries through Grant Underwood (2), Ricky Morrison (2), Dean Scholey (2), Luke Baker (2), Terry McDowell, Lewis Crellin, Ethan Williams and Rob Ferguson.

There were eight conversions from Scholey and one by Baker.