There was no shock result in the Cumberland Cup clash between Flimby and Ellenborough in midweek.

The Cumbria Men’s League side powered to a 52-28 victory over their Iggesund Cumberland ARL hosts.

Perhaps Flimby could feel somewhat aggrieved, as a week ago when the game was originally scheduled, they had a full squad available.

But, because of Ellenborough’s appearance before a disciplinary committee, the tie was put back a week.

Second time round, Flimby did not have the services of all their players, which was perhaps reflected in the final scoreline.

In front of a large crowd, both teams played with plenty of gusto and determination, with strong running, some good hard tackling and end-to-end rugby.

Flimby were first off the mark when their eventual man-of-the-match Ryan Williams raced under the sticks to register the first points of the game and, with Callum Moffat adding the extras, it was a great start.

Ellenborough came right back, scoring two tries in four minutes through Jordan Ostle and Luke Blaylock, the latter converted by Michael Hill.

The Ellenborough lead was short lived as, less than five minutes later, Flimby’s James McCallister scored his first try for the club after gathering a nice cross-field kick from Dean Scholey to score in the corner.

The game was dead-locked at 10-10 but on 32 minutes, after being camped on the Ellenborough line, Karl Grima was on the end of a a long pass to touch down. Moffat converted and Flimby were back in front.

With two minutes of the half remaining, Ellenborough’s Blaylock scored his second of the evening when he crossed out wide. The conversion was missed and the half ended with Flimby holding a slender 16-14 lead.

At the start of the second half, Ellenborough had clearly stepped up a gear as within 15 minutes they scored four tries through Kevin Hoban, Phil Flavell, Zac Olstrum – who raced from his own 25 to score under the posts – while Blaylock completed his hat-trick.

Hill converted three of them and suddenly Flimby were shell-shocked, trailing 36-16.

Flimby managed to pull back a converted try through prop Gary Miller on 64 minutes but almost immediately Ellenborough scored again. Following a short kick-off, the visitors retained the ball and following some good running, Rhys Burr touched down.

With 10 minutes of the game remaining, Williams scored his second for the home side but it was Ellenborough who had the last word through youngster Olstrum who ran in a further two tries to complete his hat-trick, one converted by Hill.

In the end, it was a comprehensive win for Elbra who will now travel to current cup holders Distington in the next round, to be staged in July.

Because of the Bank Holiday weekend, there’s only one scheduled fixture in the Iggesund Cumberland ARL – with Broughton Red Rose hosting Kells.

There are no games in the National Conference or the Cumbria Men’s League.