Cumbria Men’s League champions Distington showed why they are determined to hang onto their crown in their latest test.

Two converted tries in the last five minutes gave them a dramatic 28-20 victory at re-emerging Maryport.

When Maryport went in front 20-16 with nine minutes left it looked as though their fight-back was complete but they reckoned without true champion spirit from Distington.

Distington had led 10-4 at the break after taking the lead on 20 minutes with a try from Clayton Sutton but Maryport levelled on 28 minutes with an unconverted try from Ben Robinson.

But five minutes from the break Phil Lister scored Distington’s second try and Sutton converted.

Shane Evitt started Maryport’s fight-back with an unconverted try eight minutes into the second-half and on the hour John Dollochin put them in the lead for the first time, with Craig Foster converting.

It was nip and tuck now and five minutes later Sutton put Distington back in front with a try which he converted. But on 71 minutes Foster matched Sutton with a try and conversion to edge Maryport ahead.

But true champions are never out of it and Distington snatched the victory with those two late converted tries.

  • Hensingham and Ellenborough both finally registered their first victories in the Cumbria Men’s League following their move-up from the Cumberland ARL.

A top-class effort from Hensingham meant they ended Ulverston’s unbeaten start to the season with an 18-12 home victory while Ellenborough were 20-4 winners at Wath Brow.

In a tight game Hensingham opened-up the crucial advantage in the first-half, building a 12-6 lead by the interval.

It could have been better because they only conceded the converted try in the closing minutes of the half.

Hensingham went in front on 14 minutes when Chris Smith went over for a try which was converted by Joey Crone and four minutes later they scored again. This time it was Jordan Thompson who got over and Crone again converted.

After 34 minutes Brad Williamson went over for a try to reduce the arrears and Conner Saunders added the extras.

Thompson scored his second try on 54 minutes, again converted by Crone but Ulverston kept in the game on 65 minutes when Liam Saunders scored a try, again converted by Conner Saunders.

Both teams defended stoutly in the closing stages and Hensingham had got their season up and running.

Ellenborough led 10-0 at half-time against the young Hornets and went on to double their tally in the second-half. Jack Meagan scored the Brow’s only try.

Kevin Hoban, who has been a prolific scorer for Elbra in recent seasons, notched two more tries while Andy Ostle and Neil Gray also crossed. Michael Hill kicked two goals.

James McClelland was man of the match for the Hornets with Mark French taking the nomination for Elbra.

  • Two west Cumbrian sides travelled to the south of the county and although beaten distinguished themselves in defeat.

Seaton were beaten 32-24 at Walney Central while Glasson went down 22-14 at Barrow Island.

It was tight at former champions Walney where Seaton trailed by ten points at half-time and there were only eight in it at the end.

Seaton got off to a poor start as Walney took the lead on ten minutes with an unconverted try by Mike Elliott and six minutes later Mike Backhouse scored the second, this time converted by Brad Nicholls.

But in the middle of the half Seaton stormed back to led 12-10 as Tom Curwen and Adam Cowan scored tries, both converted by Dominic Smallwood.

It was Walney who finished the half on top with two tries from former Workington Town centre James Finch, one converted by Nicholls to lead 22-12.

Seaton narrowed the gap two minutes after the restart with a try from Liam Wood, which Smallwood converted, before Elliott scored his second try for the hosts.

Back came Seaton with a try from Matt Tunstall and Smallwood added his fourth conversion.

It was on a knife-edge at 26-24 but Finch completed his hat-trick on 68 minutes and the Nicholls conversion was the last score of an entertaining game.

Glasson opened the scoring at Barrow Island with a try on ten minutes by Grant Murdy and the only further score in the first half was a try on 15 minutes from the home side’s Luke Cresswell which Matt Sayle converted.

Glasson grabbed the lead again five minutes into the second-half when Brad Tremble crossed and Sean Mumberson added the conversion.

But Sayle then scored two tries inside five minutes, converting both, to leave Glasson trailing 18-10 but it took a rare try from Matt Parkinson to finally see-off a plucky Glasson challenge.

Another score for Glasson – a try by Matthew Burns five minutes from the end – was a just reward for their efforts.

Luke Cresswell was man of the match for Barrow Island with Matthew Burns picking-up the award for Glasson.