JAMES Howden was the toast of Barrow Island as the Rating Lane club reached the final with a golden point drop-goal. The scores were level at 30-30 on full time taking play into the added period and the golden-point rule.

Two minutes in, Howden struck the killer blow in what was a thrilling encounter over the previous 80 minutes.

It was nip and tuck throughout and with the score at 24-12 in their favour, Walney were looking comfortable. However, Island had other ideas and hit back twice to level and take the game into extra time.

Howden saved the blushes of Matt Sayle with his winning drop-goal as Sayle, with a relatively easy conversion attempt to a Dan White try on 76 minutes, put it wide of the target leaving it level pegging at 30-30.

Walney got off to a flyer though, going ahead on seven minutes when quick hands along the line paved the way for Jordan Staffieri to go in at the corner for James Finch to convert.

It took only three minutes for the Island to reply. Coming into the line at a scrum on halfway, young full-back Jake Stockdale cut through the Cents defence to go in un-opposed, with Sayle adding the goal to level the scores

Walney came back strong, but Island's defence stood firm until Jamie Morrow prised open a gap from close range to score, with Finch converting.

The lead was extended on 17 minutes with a fine try Adam Nichols, who broke on halfway before passing to James Finch, who returned the compliment for Nicholson to send Jack Rushton in for the try which Finch converted.

With play going from end to end, both lines were under siege and it was Island's turn to cross the line. Irvine put in a high kick with Scott Hadwin rising high to gather and touchdown – Sayle adding the goal.

Open rugby was the order of the day and the Cents were to stretch their lead on 28 minutes when Deveraux and Staffieri moved upfield to send Pearce on a 30-yard run before cutting inside to score, Finch again obliging with the goal.

Again though, Island were not to be outdone and hit back with a second try from Stockdale. Following a scrum 30 yards out, Irvine and debutant Brandon Corrie linked, and the full-back raced over with Sayle adding the goal to make it 24-18 to Walney at the break.

The second half was only three minutes old when the scores were tied. Lee Dutton made good yards clearing his own line, only to lose the ball in the tackle. Cents moved the ball swiftly left to right only for Josh Haney to intercept a Adam Pearson pass to go fully 95 yards and though Stu Tippett gave chase ,the Island man won the race to the line and Sayle tagged on the goal.

A swinging arm proved costly for the Cents on fifty minutes, Sayle adding to the punishment with the penalty kick and Island were ahead for the first time at 26-24.

Haney then spent time in the bin after impeding Whitehead in a tackle and Cents attacked the Island line which resulted in Furness being held up on his back over the line .On the hour mark, Cents were back in front Whitehead and Tippett moving the ball at speed, and Finch was in at the corner before adding the kick from wide out.

Morrow joined Haney in the bin for talking out of turn as both teams strove for victory, Mallinson was having a strong game for the Island setting up raids and it took a dive from Nicholson to smother the ball after Irvine had stabbed the ball to the line.

Cents should have wrapped it up when Liam Finch sent Pearce into space deep into Island territory, but his inside pass to Finch was poor and the opportunity was lost.

An incorrect play the ball by Staffieri proved costly on 75 minutes as from the resulting tap penalty, the ball was in the arms of Aidan Wright and on hand to crash over was brother Dan to level the scores, but unfortunately Sayle missed at goal 30-30.

Dan Wright then attempted a drop goal which as charged down and back to six tackles, only for Stockdale to attempt to win the game with a drop goal which was mis-hit.

Two minutes later Liam Finch was binned for talking out of turn and the game went into extra time. After only two minutes Cents lost the ball and Wright took play up for Howden to drop the vital, goal and he was immediately mobbed by delighted Island players and officials.