Askam and Millom set up Barton Townley Cup final showdown

The Villagers saw off defending champions Walney Central in the opening match of a double-header, before Millom booked their spot with victory over Ulverston.

The final will be a repeat of the 2008 showpiece, which ?? won.

Askam 14 Walney 10

ASKAM ended Walney’s grip on the Barton Townley cup as they pulled off a narrow victory.

Cents have held the trophy for the last three years, but time was called on their reign by the Villagers.

It was a welcome return to Craven Park for former crowd favourite Jamie Butler, a man who does not score many tries but who went through a huge gap to score under the posts in response to a Mike Backhouse converted try.

A delighted Askam coach Mike Wilson said: “I was pleased with the win, especially on a bad pitch.

“I thought our forwards won the game for us, with Tom Wilkinson working hard along with Mark Tyson, who was in the thick of play.

“We dug in and ground out a win after losing Sam Dowsett. It was a good team performance.”

Walney took the game to the Villagers with good play from Mike Whitehead sending Liam Finch to the posts, but the cover was on hand to bring the attack to a close.

Cents were penalised for an infringement in the tackle and were sent a further 10 for talking out of turn. From the tap, Adam Jackson sent Butler driving up field before Jackson and Mark Tyson linked for Russ Bolton to close as the Villagers ran out of tackles.

A counter-attack saw Walney go downfield and Whitehead sent Backhouse over close to the corner. Brad Nicholls added the goal.

Jackson sent the ball out on the full from the restart and Cents took the tap to apply pressure. Finch stabbed the ball over the line from where Jonathan Walsh pushed it dead.

Askam lost the influential Sam Dowsett with a sternum injury with Stu High deputising.

However, Dowsett was involved with Askam’s reply on 20 minutes before leaving the field as he set up the raid for Dan Sayle to send Butler over the whitewash. Jackson added the goal.

Walney almost hit back when Finch put in a dangerous kick for Matt Elliott to chase, but Walsh got there first to avert a try.

Askam recovered to take play over halfway, from where Jackson fed Tyson and he sent Gary Bolton racing through a gap to the line before he had the ball ripped from his grasp.

Jackson’s relatively easy penalty attempt sailed wide of the target as the teams went in at 6-6.

Minutes into the second half, Mike Elliott raced 40 yards down the touchline only for Ben Lewney to grab him by the collar and halt his progress.

On 48 minutes, Askam went in front with a brilliant try covering more than fifty yards.

Jackson set the ball in motion, parting to Russ Bolton. He fed Sayle, who released Walsh and, as the cover converged, Walsh sent the ball inside to Sayle, who touched down for 10-6.

Cents were awarded a penalty after Stu Tippett was taken high and Matt Elliott made good ground before Dave Warne was stopped.

Tyson put Lewney away but as he raced down the wing for the try line he was called back for a foot in touch.

With 10 minutes left, a majestic inch-perfect kick from one corner to the other by Tyson saw the ball bounce nicely into the arms of Walsh, who crossed out wide for 14-6.

Walney had it all to do but the Askam defence was standing firm.

Whitehead was halted following a surging drive to the Villagers 10-yard line, from where Matt Elliott was held up.

Elliott did manage to score with a minute remaining when he went under the posts, but Finch took the kick directly in front and saw the ball hit the upright and come back.

Askam: R Bolton, Walsh, Sayle, T Butler, Lewney, Tyson, Jackson, Pugh, S Dowsett, J Butler, Hopkins, Heaton, Wilkinson.

Substitutes (all used): High, G Bolton, Gaskell, Marshall.

Walney: Tippett, Furness, Staffieri, Larkin, Mike Elliott, Nicholls, Morrow, McBain, Matt Elliott, Warne, Backhouse, Whitehead, Finch.

Substitutes (all used): Rushton, Ralph, Corkill, Waite.

Referee: Terry Bewley.

Millom 28 Ulverston 12

MILLOM saw off a stern challenge from Ulverston on a pitch made heavier by the driving rain and the earlier encounter, but all credit goes to both sides for 100 per cent effort.

Woollybacks coach Tom Sibley knew his side had been in a tough match and said: “It was a tough win. I thought we played very well in the first 10 to 15 minutes and then again in the second half against a strong wind when it became a forwards game.

“In the second half, it was a case of stick it up your jumper and gain as many yards as you could.

“We had to work hard as Ulverston never stopped coming at us and I thought there were a few good personal performances today.”

Former Barrow Raiders full-back Ross Brookes grabbed a brace of tries inside the opening minutes and could have had three, only to be denied with two minutes on the clock when a finger nail by an Askam player just beat him in touching down.

The game was 11 minutes old when a fine raid from the Woollybacks saw Steve Dawson drive for the line and Brookes on his shoulder to score. The touchline kick from Adam Kelly sailed between the uprights for 6-0.

Brookes was soon crossing the whitewash for number two as he was on hand to score after a great touchline run from Lee Postlethwaite. Brookes, aided by the slippery surface, slid over in the corner.

Kelly was unable to add the goal, but with a 10-0 lead, Millom were up and running.

Ulverston, who rarely had ball in hand at this point, came into the frame with good forward play taking them into Millom territory.

Matt Storey was held short of the line and further pressure came to an end when he failed to keep possession as he tried to cross the line.

The hard-working skipper did go in on 20 minutes, rounding off a sweeping attack which involved Marc Dixon, Connor Saunders and Joel Smith. Saunders added the goal for 10-6.

The Woolybacks knew they were in for a tough game as Ulverston’s spirits were lifted.

The Dragley Beck team’s defence stood firm as O'Brien was pushed back from the line before Adam Kelly was held up.

When Millom were awarded a tap penalty, four men brought the dangerous Dawson down.

Another penalty enabled Sibley to make good ground before O'Brien lost the ball in going forward.

The second half was three minutes old when the Woollybacks increased their lead as Postlethwaite went in at the corner for 14-6.

Ulverston hit back in style as Marc Storey intercepted to cover 70 yards with defenders in pursuit. But Jamie Sandham was on hand to race over. The touchline kick from Saunders was successful and it was and game-on at 14-12.

On the hour-mark, the Woolybacks eased matters when the alert O'Brien darted under the posts from a play the ball. Kelly made the margin eight points at 20-12.

With 10 minutes remaining, the game was in the bag as a high ball from Kelly came back into the arms of Chris Warren who touched down. Kelly converted before rounding off the scoring with a penalty.

Millom: Brookes, Wright, Warren, Donaghue, Postlethwaite, Hodgson, A Kelly, Carter, O'Brien, D Kelly, Armstrong, Dawson, Sibley.

Substitutes (all used): Myers, Shaw, Heasley, Brady.

Ulverston: O'Connor, Wilkinson, Marc Storey, Hoyland, Sandham, C Saunders, L Saunders, Dixon, Shepherd, Matty Storey, J Spedding, Houston.

Substitutes (all used): Smith, T Spedding, Williamson, High.

Referee: Rob McAloone.