Last updated 19:57, Thursday, 18 September 2008

IT WAS a difficult start to the new season for clubs in Allerdale with defeats for Workington, Keswick, Cockermouth and Aspatria.

Workington began their North Lancs Cumbria campaign at Tyldesley and went down 20-6 although early in the second half they were leading 6-5.

A late try with virtually the last move of the game gave the scoreline a rather unfair slant.

Team manager Kevin O’Neil said: “I’m disappointed to lose but not disheartened. We have lads to come in and I think Tyldesley might be one of the better teams this season.”

Workington weathered an early blitz and some good breaks from Mike Hawley and Kevin Harper could have produced scores but the home side defended well.

The home side went ahead with an unconverted try but before the break Harper put over a penalty.

Five minutes after the restart Harper kicked a second penalty to edge the Zebras ahead.

But Tyldesley hit back with a converted try and then a very late unconverted touch-down.

Last season Aldwinians and Keswick were two leagues apart but a respective relegation and promotion has put them together.

Keswick coach Alan Gray admitted it could have been a mis-match, and for part of the time it was, but he’s convinced his players will have learnt from the experience.

Aldwinians took time to get into their stride but took the lead on 11 minutes, kicking into the corner and driving over from the line-out for a converted try.

But Keswick came back and when they were awarded two penalties in quick succession John Hine was on target with both.

A penalty then gave Aldwinians a 17-6 lead at the break. Aldwinians then put in a big finish which yielded them two more converted tries.

Other scores were Oldham 5 Wigton 15, Burnley 10 Kirkby Lonsdale 34, Fleetwood 32 Upper Eden 20 and Heaton Moor 26 Vale of Lune 38.

In the EDF Energy Senior Vase Workington Steelers suffered a narrow defeat, 8-3, at Wigton Wanderers.

Wigton flanker Ashley Gosling, making his senior debut after moving up from the Colts, scored the Wigton try while Johnny Scott put over a penalty.

Workington, with a number of youngsters in the side, had played particularly well in the first half when they were unlucky not to build up a decent lead.

Their only points came from a penalty by John McCrickard but they hung on doggedly in the second half until Scott equalised and Gosling scored the late winner.

Cockermouth crashed out when they went down 39-0 at home to Ponteland.

This proved to be an extremely useful run out, giving young players valuable experience.

Egremont put up a creditable display in Leeds where they lost 11-8 to Leodiensian while Aspatria Eagles weren’t far off the pace at North Shields, eventually losing 18-7.

St Benedict’s won 26-12 at Yarnbury and Creighton had a 31-24 home win over Winlaton Vulcans.

Aspatria lost their North Two East opener 30-12 at Driffield and coach Mike Scott admits his team fell foul on the new rule changes.

He said: “Our lads said afterwards they were baffled with what to do at rucks because the referee’s interpretation was different to what we expected.”

Aspatria had been on the defensive for most of the first half so to restrict the home lead to a couple of penalties was encouraging.

Early in the second half Aspatria went in front when Jacques Rowe, who has returned to the club, broke away from a ruck about 30 yards out, dummied the full-back and went in for a fine try which Scott improved.

But then disaster for the Black Reds - Scott had a kick charged down in his own half and Driffield picked up to score, while another ball went astray in Aspatria territory and the home side capitalised again.

Back row forward Gary Hodgson, Aspatria’s best player, broke through from a scrum near the end and scored a second try for the visitors but Scott was unable to convert from the touchline.