Kells 30 Nottingham Outlaws 0: Kells forward Paul Cullnean rolled back the years as he scored a hat-trick in his side's 30-0 Challenge Cup first round win over Nottingham Outlaws.

The substitute scored twice in the first half and then secured his hat-trick in the second with a fine finish as the National Conference League Premier Division side secured their place in Tuesday's draw for the second round.

Head coach Peter Smith said: "Paul's a player who you can put in the back-row or at prop and he just runs straight and hard.

"He's one of those horrible men you don't want to play against."

Kells opted to play on their Pit Field pitch and both teams had to contend with a howling gale coming in from the Irish Sea.

Ross Gainford's knock-on from the kick-off was indicative of how the afternoon was going to play out.

Kells' defence held firm after Nottingham were awarded a penalty but then knocked on and they were rewarded with a try through the free-scoring Tyrone Dalton.

Ryan Watson then came close to scoring but the ball was ripped from his grasp as he dropped over the line.

Gainford also looked to have scored after a kick through was then nudged further ahead by Tony Burns, the scrum-half dropped on the ball but was penalised for offside.

Cullnean went over for his first score as he swatted a defender away to crash over.

Despite the blustery conditions, Gainford successfully converted but it would be the only effort of seven which would go between the posts.

Cullnean then scored his second just before half time as he span out of a tackle to go over and Kells led 14-0 at the break.

In the second half, Ross Ainley burst through four defenders to cross over the line from 10 metres out to put Kells further ahead and Cullnean backed him up soon after with his hat-trick try after breaking the line and stepping the full-back.

The Cumbrians scored twice in the last five minutes, first through Martin O'Neil who took a run from dummy-half from 10 metres out and Dalton picked up his second to give Kells a 30-0 win.

"It was hard for us to concentrate and put passes together," Smith continued. "I don't think Nottingham will have played in anything like this.

"They had a couple of good lads but I don't think they were ever going to break us.

"It was a good hit-out for us defensively.

"I tried to give all the lads decent game time. Pre-season is good but there's nothing like full-contact.

"It was in horrendous conditions but it's a learning curve for them.

"In the second round we'd want a home tie, as all the coaches from Cumbrian sides would say.

"I'm not too bothered who we get but it would be nice to have a local derby."

Kells: Smith, R O'Neil, M O'Neil, Lofthouse, Joyce; Dalton, Gainford; Lowery, Doran, Ainley, Wilson, Watson, Burns; Subs: Wear, Cullnean, Ford

Tries: Dalton 2, Cullnean 3, Ainley, M O'Neil; Goal: Gainford 1/3

Nottingham: Crabtree, Christie, Campbell, Needham, Chaima; Simm, Cunliffe; Strachan, Whittle, Andrews, Ward, Dale, Costane; Subs: Wright, Prime, Martin, Ephraim