Resurgent Wath Brow have sting in the tail for Barrow Island

WATH Brow Hornets buzzed their way into the second round of the Cumbria Cup with victory over Barrow Island at Rating Lane.

Both sides had enjoyed unbeaten starts to their West Cumbria League campaigns, but something had to give in the knockout competition.

Wath Brow came south having scored nearly 200 points in three matches, while Island had clocked up 80 in two.

Neither side really knew what to expect and the early exchanges were very physical.

Elliot Campbell, Alfie Thomas and Jack Newby tackled hard in the middle of the park for the home side, with Matty Brown also making some individual tough tackles.

Brow pushed the Island line intensely, Joe Power going close only to be thwarted on the line by Joe Lashley, Shane Sanderson and Rob Salt.

On the turnover, Island made good progress up the middle of the park through Campbell, Thomas and Lashley, setting them up just to left of the Brow sticks.

Jack Newby hit a good line with Sanderson’s pass from dummy half and crashed over to put Island ahead, leaving Wath Brow stunned after an intense 20-minute exchange. Joe Dalton added the two.

Brow kicked back to Island and the home side showed confidence, working up the field and breaking on the left. Brown juggled the ball and continued his run, finding Luke Worrall Thompson on the outside who cut back.

The Brow defence were scrambling and last-ditch tackling from Andrew Bulman thwarted Mitchell Nicholson, who had hit the line at speed from Salt’s pass. Cavan Murt was open for a nailed-on try, but Bulman held on tight to prevent Nicholson from putting him in for Island’s second.

The ball moved again and consecutive drives from Warren Purcell and Campbell set up the hosts dangerously close to the line.

Good hands saw Lashley release the pass to Sam Johnson, who dodged defenders and found the supporting Salt. He, in turn, found Brown on his inside, running what seemed like an unstoppable line. He crossed, but was somehow held up.

Island should have been 12 points up, but this seemed to be a turning point.

Back-to-back penalties saw Brow push the home side all the way back up the field and Island were hanging on with last-ditch tackles.

Josh Dodd and Harry Higgins produced a great stop on the line, but a quick play the ball saw Brow hooker Ellison Holgate find Keiron Eldon and he crashed over. Island were stunned as Power added the two.

Minutes later, Brow came back strongly again with quick play the balls.

Just 30 seconds from the end of the first half Holgate was given too much time on the last. A deft chip over the line and quick feet saw the ball bounce back into his hands and he grounded under the sticks.

The second half saw the West Cumbrians with the bit between their teeth. Island suffered from untimely penalties and errors, and Brow capitalised.

The hosts fought hard, but two quick-fire tries from England centre Bulman, who had been relatively quiet until this point, took advantage of a tiring line after back-to-back sets of defending.

Power added both conversions and Island were up against a comeback. Minutes later, Island – in only their second set of six in the half – took on Brow’s right flank, with Luke Thompson passing to supporting winger Luke Worrall Thompson, who produced a great inside pass back to Thompson for the try.

It was all too little, too late for Barrow Island, who dominated most of the first half but found themselves scratching their heads as a brave Wath Brow side dominated the second.