Holders Seaton knocked out of BARLA County Cup

Dalton were due to play at Glasson while Ellenborough should have squared-up to Men’s League champions Distington.

In the two ties that did go ahead, there were wins for Barrow Island, 24-22 against Ulverston and Walney Central by 38-20 against Seaton Rangers.

That second game was a repeat of last year’s final which means that Seaton have lost their grip on the trophy won at the Zebra Claims Stadium.

Seaton opened the scoring with a try from Adam Cowen on 12 minutes but by half-time they were trailing 22-8.

A Jamie Morrow try on 14 minutes, converted by Brad Nicholls, edged Walney ahead and six minutes later Jordan Stafferi also crossed with Nicholls converting. Four minutes later Conner Pearce scored a third Walney try.

Lewis Mason gave Seaton some hope when he scored on 28 minutes but five minutes before the break Mike Backhouse scored again for Walney and Nicholls converted.

It was tighter in the second-half – 16-12 to Walney – but again Seaton were first to score through Matthew Dixon with Duncan Moyles landing the conversion.

Two tries in as many minutes killed off any hopes Seaton had of a revival. Their man of the match Pearce went in after 53 minutes and two minutes later Nicholls crossed. He had converted the first.

Seaton kept plugging away and on the hour scored the final try of the game from Miguel Blanco Charters, which was converted by Matthew Tunstall.

The other all-south Cumbrian tie was a cracker which went down to the wire.

Ulverston needed the conversion from their last minute try to draw level but Connor Saunders’ kick sailed just wide.

Barrow Island led 16-12 at half-time through tries from Daniel Wight, Chris Burns and Luke Cresswell, two of them converted by Jake Carter.

Ulverston’s two tries from Sam Sheppard and Matthew Storey were both converted by Saunders.

Within five minutes of the re-start Ulverston were in front with a try by Marc Storey, converted by Saunders.

But two unconverted tries from Wright and Burns gave the advantage to Barrow Island although Ulverston would have levelled if Saunders could have improved Joe Hamley’s last minute try.

The BARLA Cumbria County Shield final will be contested by Seaton A and Flimby.

In their semi-finals, Seaton A beat Kells A 22-16 while Flimby won 40-20 at Aspatria.

Seaton A’s tries came from John Patrick, Steven Dawes, Justin McComb and Owen Nicholas. Patrick added three goals.

The Kells tries came from Grant Gainford, Owen Martin and Jordan Herve with Jake Parker kicking two goals.

A big crowd at Aspatria witnessed a proper cup-tie with strong, physical confrontations among the forwards and some expansive, flowing rugby in the backs, particularly from Flimby.

It was Aspatria who took the lead after only two minutes when Chris Beattie scored an unconverted try but Luke Penrice quickly levelled with one for Flimby.

Flimby got in front on 26 minutes through Ryan Williams with Darren Pape adding the conversion.

Aspatria cut the deficit on 29 minutes with a try from Mark Irwin but almost immediately Oscar Harris went in for Flimby and just before half-time Dave Torley forced his way over and Pape’s conversion made it 20-8 at the break.

Two minutes after the interval Penrice scored his second try, converted by Pape and then Irwin scored his second try.

Next to a brace was Torley on 54 minutes and this time Lewis Crellin added the conversion.

Aspatria reduced the arrears with a try from Gary Armstrong before Flimby pulled well clear with unconverted tries by Scott Hodgson and Conner Wilson before Stuart Creighton scored Aspatria’s fifth unconverted try three minutes from the end.

There was one re-arranged game in the Iggesund Cumberland ARL in which Broughton Red Rose beat Great Clifton Lions 40-10.

The Red Rose tries came from Matthew Skillen (3), David Campbell, James Brydon, James Beck, Lee Cunningham and Conner Bernard. Jonathan Bell kicked four goals.

Matthew Wilson and Mike Walker scored the Clifton tries and Steven Newell added a goal.