Distington won the E Lamb Amateur Cup but not until after they had been given a great run for their money by Kells A.

The final at the Copeland Stadium was played in atrocious weather conditions and in many ways was the proverbial game of two halves.

Kells A led 12-4 at half-time but Cumbria Men’s League champions Distington gradually wore them down and scored four second-half tries without reply.

Kells A had taken the lead after only five minutes with a try from Jordan Irving which was converted by Jake Parker.

Then on 15 minutes, winger Darren Seeds intercepted a long Distington pass and raced 75 yards to score the second try which Parker converted.

Distington gave themselves a boost with a 20th minute try from winger Phil Lister.

In the second half Distington came out with all guns blazing and it took Kells all they knew to hold them out with resolute defence. But the villagers scored at regular intervals to wipe-out the Kells lead, and eventually, pull clear.

The tries were scored by substitute Steven Clarke (2), second row forward Liam McNicholas and hooker Matthew Hewer with Clayton Sutton converting two.

Distington’s Shaun Adams was named the official man of the match.

The team offering the biggest threat to Distington retaining their Cumbria Men’s League title is Walney Central who romped to a 74-0 home win over bottom side Roose Pioneers in the weekend's only league game.

In the Iggesund Cumberland ARL, Flimby bounced back to winning ways after successive defeats by Distington and Lowca.

But bottom side Great Clifton Lions gave them more to think about than was probably envisaged at half-time.

Flimby were 26-8 to the good at the break but only won the second period 8-4 as the Lions emerged with credit from the contest.

Clifton were first off the mark on nine minutes when second rower Richard Hodgson sprinted down the right wing to score an unconverted try.

Flimby hit back almost immediately when the ball was kicked through, and subsequently knocked on by a Clifton defender. 

However Flimby full-back Luke Penrice was in the perfect position to gather the ball and race under the sticks to give an easy conversion for stand-off Lewis Crellin.

Penrice was on the scoresheet again five minutes later when Flimby were camped on the Clifton line and straight from the play-the-ball he managed to dive under the defenders for his second try.

On 20 minutes Flimby centre Scott Hodgson made a lovely jinking run evading several tackles to score out wide.

Clifton reduced the deficit on 28 minutes when second rower Shaun Murphy dived on a loose ball and dropped over the line for the try.

Next to score for Flimby was Crellin, who broke a tackle on the 25 yard line and raced under the sticks to score and add the conversion. This was quickly followed by a try from Flimby’s man of the match Ryan Williams who was surrounded by defenders when he made the touchdown. 

Crellin converted to give Flimby a comfortable 26-8 half time lead.

The second half was a much tighter affair and limited to just three unconverted tries. The first of these came on 58 minutes when Luke Baker took a short ball and barged over the line before 16-year-old Luke Eve scored his first try for the club on 70 minutes.

The final try went to Clifton’s Murphy on 75 minutes as he crossed for his second.

It had been a good game of rugby with some excellent running from both sets of forwards who all worked tirelessly throughout.

Broughton Red Rose had given Seaton A a decent game in mid-week before losing a cup clash but they were well beaten 52-6 when they met again in the league.

Jack Clarke scored the Broughton try and added the conversion while Seaton’s tries came from Jordan Ostle (2), Jordan O’Leary (2), Tom Curwen (2), Adam Conway, Matthew Dixon, Steven Wallace and Jordan Pritt. 

The goals were kicked by John Carl Bryan (3), Duncan Moyles (2) and Andy Ellis.