Last updated 12:26, Friday, 23 May 2008

CUMBRIA produced a dramatic recovery to retain their place in the County Shield competition next season.

The Cumbrians looked bound for the Plate when they trailed 20-6 early in the second half but they scored three tries - the last one a minute from the end - to snatch a 21-20 victory.

Coach Malcolm Brown said: “It was a remarkable effort but I thought we deserved it in the end because we went close to scoring two other tries. We made a few changes in the second half to freshen-up things and bring on new legs and it worked.”

Cumbria played into the elements in the first half and went in front with a penalty from Kendal’s Chris Park.

But when Durham won good mid-field possession they built well and moved the ball wide for Tynedale’s Matthew Horricks to score in the corner.

Another Park penalty edged Cumbria back in front but Simon Moore of Middlesbrough put over a successful kick for the home side to edge them back in front.

Cumbria had Stephen Hewitson yellow-carded on 19 minutes and during his absence Durham increased their lead. A fine break by Matthew Gupta was finished off by Gareth Foreman for an unconverted try.

Cumbria thought they had reduced the arrears when great work from Joe Graham made ground into the Durham 22 and the forwards drove over but Billy Coxon was ruled to have been held-up.

Hooker Graham, who had been prominent with several excellent driving breaks in the first half, had to be replaced by Alan Holmes after suffering a bad dead leg.

Early in the second half Cumbria got over again but this time were very unlucky not to be given the score. The referee was knocked over in the forward rush before James Gough got the ball down and the official could not give the try.

From that position Durham countered well and an interception provided Phil Eggleshaw with a try which Moore converted.

With only 33 minutes left Cumbria were staring down both barrels but they responded superbly. Sean Andrews, Graeme Andrews and Craig Smithson joined the action to provide fresh legs and immediately Cumbria started to boss the game.

On 54 minutes a superb long pass from Heinrich Jonker allowed Lewis Boyd to get over for an unconverted try.

Daniel Bowman, the Cumbrian captain led by example and was superb over the final quarter as he produced an inspirational performance.

On 60 minutes Gareth Gore finished off a forward drive and pick-and-go to cut the deficit to 20-16.

Cumbria piled on the pressure in the closing stages and on 79 minutes when Durham wheeled a scrum Smithson picked up at number eight, barged through two tackles and went 36 yards for a super individual try.

There was still time for Durham to win because when Cumbria infringed at an injury-time tackle Durham had a 40-yard penalty.

Moore had been taken off and replacement kicker David Kell struck his kick well wide.

Northumberland, coached by ex-Cumbria and Aspatria coach Tommy Borthwick, reached Twickenham with a 29-5 win over North Midlands and will meet Cornwall in the final.

They will be promoted to the main championship competition and replaced in the Shield by Cheshire who lost 31-8 against Warwickshire.