Last updated at 11:56, Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Carlisle lost ground in the promotion race from North One West when they went down 21-12 to Vale of Lune.

Glen Weightman

The Lancaster side was able to leap-frog them after the hard-fought victory, and Carlisle in fourth place now, are six points behind leaders Liverpool St. Helens.

In an entertaining match, the city side were dominant up front but were unable to contain the visitors’ backs.

Expectations were high for a top-of-the-table clash, with Carlisle in third place, anxious top hold onto that and progress against a team immediately below them, and who had a match in hand of he Cumbrians.

The game was played at a fast pace, and whilst the Warwick Road outfit dominated in the scrum and many of the set pieces. it was the visiting backs who caught the eye. They kept the home defence on their mettle throughout.

Despite their best efforts the Carlisle attack was unable to pierce the Vale rearguard and they had to be content with four Glen Weightman penalties.

The home backs had, what can best be described as an off day, but scrum half Tim Hughes played his heart out as always, never stopped trying to make things happen with his constant probing and tackling throughout the game. It was enough to gain him a deserved man of the match accolade.

The forwards were all solid throughout but hooker Tom Graham probably caught the eye as the main most likely to create something for Carlisle. Whenever he had the ball there was always the feeling that ample advance would be made. Sadly, though his tenacity was not supported well enough.

First published at 11:52, Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk