Glasson shocked Ellenborough in the Maryport derby, winning with a last minute penalty try.

An exciting Holmen Iggesund Cumberland ARL Premier Division was settled when Dan Kirkup was held back as he went to drop on the ball over the Elbra try-line.

The try pulled Glasson to within a point and Keenan Winter’s conversion won the game.

It was a successive blow to Ellenborough who have now lost their last two games after an unbeaten start to the season. Champions Distington have lost three times now as the race for the title promises to be the tightest for some time.

Ellenborough had actually led 18-12 at half-time following a fluctuating 40 minutes of keenly fought rugby league.

The hosts had taken the lead on two minutes when Jordan Ostle scored a try which was converted by Owen Hoyles. But within six minutes Glasson led 12-6 with tries from Gary Tierney and Kirkup, both converted by Winter.

The game continued to see-saw and two tries in five minutes just before and after the half hour gave them the advantage again. Jordan Ostle and John Todd both scored tries, converted by Hoyles. Nine minutes into the second-half Glasson were level as Kirkup powered over again and Winter added the extras.

On 53 minutes it was advantage Elbra again when Hoyles scored a try and converted himself.

Glasson regained parity on the hour with a try from Tierney, converted by Winter and nine minutes later Winter landed a drop goal – which proved crucial in the final analysis.

Ellenborough probably thought they had won it on 75 minutes with a John Irving try, converted by Hoyles but they reckoned without Kirkup who was going in for the loose ball to complete his hat-trick when he was pulled back.

Seaton, who have drawn with Elbra and beaten Distington, are also firmly in the title hunt and they picked-up two more points against Kells A.

They led 18-4 at the break against a young Kells team and went on to win comfortably 46-4.

The Seaton tries were scored by Ryan Heron (2), Grant Reid (2), Jackson Traverse, Malik Steele, Jordan Pritt and Keith Hunter.

There were seven goals from John Carl Bryan (3) and Ciaran Walker (4) while Aaron Burns scored the unconverted Kells try.

Holmen Iggesund Cumberland ARL champions Distington slipped to their third defeat of the season. They went down 30-8 at Wath Brow after being in the contest at half-time when they trailed 12-4.

The crucial score came on 51 minutes when Ellison Holgate seized on a dropped ball, shrugged off two tackles and went over for the try. Distington had just got back into the game with their second try but Holgate’s score lifted the Hornets and they pulled clear.

The hosts had started well with a try on six minutes from winger Luke Spivey which was converted by their eventual man of the match, full-back Sam Curwen.

Without a first team game Hornets included two or three of their regulars and it was one of them Dean Rooney who scored the second try on 25 minutes, again converted by Curwen.

Five minutes later Distington got through the home defence and centre Scott Rooke touched down for an unconverted try.

A minute after the re-start Distington were right back into it when Rooke’s fellow centre Jack Penrice scored their second unconverted try.

It was a crucial period of the game but Holgate’s try on 51 minutes settled them down. They went on to score two more tries through Rooney and Luke Davison, both converted by Curwen.

In Division One Maryport were 22-10 winners at home to Egremont A after leading 12-6 at the break. Maryport try scorers were Josh Patterson (2), Scott Akehurst and Connor Wilson with three goals from Craig Foster. For Egremont there were tries by Stephen Ngan and Reuben Butterworth with one conversion by Albert McKay.

The other Division One game saw Cockermouth win 44-0 at Seaton A, building on a 20-0 interval lead with tries from Jamie Lightfoot (2), Jack Clark (2), Joe Beatty, Frazer Murray, Regan Tinnion and Todd Wood. Clark kicked six goals.