CUMBRIA 6
BARLA LIONS 26
At
Distington ARLFC
BARLA, who tour Fiji next month, put in a satisfactory performance against a Cumbrian side that is preparing for the autumn’s BARLA County Championship Series.
The game was arranged at relatively short notice following the withdrawal of the Army, for military logistical reasons, from a scheduled match with the Lions.
Both sides will have benefitted from an exercise in which Cumbria fielded eleven substitutes and BARLA had seven men on the bench.
The Lions owed their success largely to a strong opening in which three tries, all ironically scored by Cumbrians, which were registered without reply.
The first went to Barrow Island winger Sam Jones after five minutes and Cockermouth Titans centre Jack Clark followed suit midway through the opening period.
Substitute Ethan Kelly, of Millom, added a further try before the interval and with Yorkshireman Ian Jackson, the Featherstone Lions fullback landing the conversion BARLA were in the driving seat at lemons with a 14-0 advantage.
Cumbria, though were firmly back in the frame within two minutes of the resumption, Barrow Island prop Carl McBain crashing over and Ulverston scrum half Connor Saunders adding the extras.
BARLA however controlled the closing quarter in a manner that augers well for the trip to Fiji.
Hooker Craig savage of Lock Lane busted over in trademark style on 62 minutes and further pressure gained its reward as York acorn second row forward Reece Rushworth powered over some ten minutes later.
Jackson added the extras on each occasion to leave BARLA as comfortable winners although the hosts will certainly take plenty of positives from the initiative.
Cumbria travel to meet reigning champions Yorkshire on the first day of the series, York Acorn staging the double-header between the same counties on Saturday 3rd November.
Lancashire travel to Milo for the clash with Cambria on Saturday 10th November and the last match between Lancashire and Yorkshire takes place on Sunday 18th November at Leigh Miners Rangers.
CUMBRIA: Blain Maywood, Emerson Allen, Russ Bolton, Steve O’Connor, Jonathan Walsh, Adam Jackson, Connor Saunders, Liam Saunders, Josh Banham, Carl McBain, Peter Rimmer, Bobby Wright, Callum Kinrade. Subs: Lewis Mason, Luke Penrice, James Motum, Pete Wood, Ryan Wilson, Liam McNicholas, Oscar Harris, Luke Crossman, Jonathan Hodgson, Phil Flavell, Gary Tierney.
Tries: McBain
Goals: C Saunders
BARLA LIONS: Ian Jackson, Sam Jones, Jordan Gibson, Jack Clark, Ryan Chalkley, Andrew Hullock, Jack Jones, Andy Lea, Craig savage, Andy Gleeson, Reece Rushworth, Tom Hopkins, Jack Howdle. Subs: Ethan Kelly, Johnny Goulding, Marcus O’Brien, Matthew Hanson, Mark Tyson, Declan Sheriden, Lee Postlethwaite, Kevin Hoban.
Tries: Jones, Clark, Kelly, Savage, Rushworth
Goals: Jackson 3/5
Half-time: 0-14
Men of the Match: Blain Marwood (Cumbria) Ian Jackson (BARLA Lions)
Weather: Dry & Sunny
Dave Parkinson
BARLA Lions Media Manager
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