Last updated 19:44, Thursday, 17 July 2008

CUMBRIA enjoyed a fairytale ending to their Australia tour with Maryport full-back Jonathan Dawes going 50-metres to score the winning try with just a minute left.

CLINCHER: Jonathan Dawes, who scored Cumbria’s winning try

The tourists, guests of NRL outfit Penrith Panthers throughout their four-match trip, trailed by 10 points with less than 20 minutes to go but dug deep to snatch their second win.

“It was an amazing finish,” said Cumbria manager Chris Fisher. ““It’s been a fantastic tour and we’ve been treated like kings by Penrith Panthers.”

Cumbria made a great start to the match, played in torrential rain, Hensingham centre Kyle Amor crossing after two minutes.

Egremont prop Richard Farrer doubled the lead on eight minutes against the huge Blacktown team, who included ex-Salford winger Junior Langi in their formidable ranks.

Dawes then went 60 metres before finding winger Sam Jones, of Barrow Island, who crossed out wide.

None of the tries was converted, and the hosts replied with a touch down under the posts on 17 minutes. But on Cumbria’s next set, Millom winger Elliott Miller went the length of the pitch to score a superb try. Nathan Mossop converted to make the score 18-6.

Two City tries later in the half kept them in the match, and Cumbria led 18-16 at the break.

The second-half started badly for the tourists, who lost Broughton Red Rose’s Ryan Moore with a dislocated shoulder, and two further Aussie tries put them 28-18 up on 61 minutes.

Joint coach Jonty Gorley issued some stern words to the tourists, and following the introduction of hooker Phillip Hewitt, Cumbria stepped up their performance.

The Broughton ace hit back on 68 minutes, and eight minutes later, winger Ryan Burns, of Cockermouth, went over to ensure an exciting finish.

It just left time for Dawes to score his last-gasp winner, beating the full-back in style to round off the tour on a high note.