Ellenborough won the battle of the two teams who stepped-up to the Cumbria Men’s League.

Last season’s Iggesund Cumberland ARL champions beat the runners-up Hensingham 34-32.

There were six points between the sides at half-time but Ellenborough saw their lead wiped out until two late tries won it for them.

Elbra had got off to a good start with two tries in the first 15 minutes from Shane Ackerley and Andy Ostle, both converted by Lee Birks.

But in the next quarter-of-an-hour Hensingham twice crossed the Elbra line through Craig Branthwaite and Todd Wood, the second converted by Mark Bainbridge.

After 31 minutes Kevin Hoban got away for a try for Ellenborough, which Birks converted but two minutes later Hensingham cut the gap to two points with a try from Don Smith, converted by Bainbridge.

However Ellenborough went in with a 22-16 leads when Liam Watson scored an unconverted try a minute from the break.

It looked as if Hensingham were going to come through and win it. Tries from Dan Smith (52), Steve Smith (62) and Branthwaite (72), two of them converted by Bainbridge, pushed them into a 32-22 lead.

But never-say-die Elbra fought back to win by two points as two tries in the last seven minutes from Kevin Hoban and John Stoddart, both converted by Birks gave them a dramatic victory.

Champions Distingto n didn’t need any help at bottom side Roose but the Pioneers could find only 12 players despite playing at home.

To their credit Roose battled hard with their handicap before going down 74-1.

Inside 20 minutes Distington enjoyed a 28-0 lead from four tries by Steven Conway, Jamie Freil, Liam McNicholas and Gavin Martin (2) – four converted by Scott George.

Two more tries in the second quarter of the game by Martin, to complete his hat-trick, and George added three more conversions.

Distington led 38-0 at the break and although Roose continued to defend doggedly the tries kept coming.

Three of them came in the first 16 minutes through Phil Lister, Ryan Hodgson and Bryan Ritchie, two converted by George the other by Martin. Roose got on the scoresheet with a Steve Neale drop goal on 61 minutes.

Distington returned to scoring form four minutes later with another try from Lister which George converted.

Lister completed his hat-trick on 70 minutes and this time Friel added the conversion, while Liam McNicholas went in for the last try eight minutes from the end and George converted.

Despite the heavy defeat Roose earned lot of credit for the way they battled throughout with just the 12 men.

Glasson paid the price for a poor first-half in their home clash with Barrow Island.

In a hard game, a 24-0 deficit was too much to turn round and they lost 34-12.

Chris Tomlinson and Daniel Fryer scored the Glasson points, both converted by Sean Mumberson.

Barrow Island’s tries came from Daniel Wright, Sam Jones, Luke Cresswell, Sam Attard, Blain Marood and Scott Hadwen. Jones converted two, Mark Bewley improved two and Cresswell converted one.

The Glasson man of the match was Shane Williams with Ian Irvin piking-up the award for Barrow Island.

Wath Brow included a number of first teamers in their side which blew Ulverston away in the second-half to win 54-30. It had been all square 24-24 at the break.

The Wath Brow tries came from Lewis Pritchard, Dean Rooney (2), Rhys Pritchard (3), man of the match Charlie Tomlinson, Thomas Carruthers, Karl Dixon and Scott Goodwin. Jason Connery and Rooney shared goal-kicking duties.

The Ulverston tries came from Mark Wilkinson, Jake Handley (2), Mark Williamson and their man of the match Conner Saunders who converted all five tries.