On what was a very wet day, both sides started off shakily with neither team completing sets as the conditions really affected the style of rugby being played.
On the 15 minute mark, Millom lost Niall Harris to an ankle injury. However, it was the Woollybacks who scored first when Dominic O’Brien managed to cross after Adam Kelly supplied the pass to send him through a gap. Postlethwaite was unable to convert the extras.
The away side responded immediately when on 29 minutes, Tim Norfolk latched onto a passing move to the right to cross in the right hand corner. Jacob Thompson couldn’t add the extras.
Just before half-time Millom crossed again when Dominic O’Brien burst onto the ball with speed from around 15 metres after Adam Kelly had again supplied the pass.
This time, Postlethwaite could convert and Millom led 10-4 at the halfway stage.
The second half began with the visitors starting the brighter and they scored on 42 minutes when Lee Fisher crossed on the blindside. Thompson could not convert and they still trailed by two points.
Millom then responded with a try of their own when on 46 minutes Jordan Williams crossed off the back of a break by Paul Carter and the home side led 14-8.
Then East Leeds hit Millom with a match-winning surge of points over a 15-minute period.
First on 52 minutes the away team’s man of the match Rhys Kilbride crossed and Thompson converted. Then they scored again on 65 minutes when James Forsell crossed underneath the sticks. Thompson again converted to take the score to 20-14.
Around the 70th minute mark James Forsell was sin-binned after East Leeds had been put on a team warning.
Millom still couldn’t force their way over and East Leeds converted a penalty goal from in front of the sticks to make the score 22-14.
On 78 minutes Ross Brookes crossed in the right corner, after which there was an incident which led to Jordan Normanton being sin-binned.
Postlethwaite converted to reduce the gap back down to two points.
Millom continued to press but time had run out for them after what was a very brave effort. Outstanding for the home side were Adam Kelly and Tom Newbegin.
Elsewhere, Sam Dowsett made a welcome return in Askam colours crossing for a try in the 18-14 win at Saddleworth. Dowsett is back home at Fallowfield Park following a short spell at Workington and his impressive performance saw him take the Villagers’ man of the match award.
On a miserable day Askam went in at break leading 12-4 and held out in the second period to pull two points clear of the Oldham side in the National Conference second division table.
Other tries came from Russ Bolton and former Ulverston player Marc Dixon with Adam Jackson crucially adding all three conversions.
Barrow Island came out second best at Woolston going down 28-12 after trailing 14-6 at the interval, with two late tries seeing off their challenge.
Tries came via Joe Spenceley and Carl McBain, with two conversions from the boot of James Howden.
In the Cumbria League despite a 42-10 scoreline against them, Ulverston players received high praise from coach Phil Atkinson after their defeat at Distington.
Atkinson said: “We took a scratch side up the coast to play a top side in Distington and put up a brave fight. Three late tries blew us apart, but I can’t fault the effort.”
Tries came from Steve O’Connor and Marc Storey with Connor Saunders adding one conversion.
In the North West Mens League Hindpool lost narrowly at Leigh Miners A in a nip and tuck 80 minutes. The home side ran out 26-22 winners after it was level pegging 14-14 at the break. Tries for the Brisbane Park side came from Matt Archer, Shannon Coleman, Nathan Sneesby, Paul Rickleton and Jamie McIroy, who added one goal.
Barrow And District League results - Harry Warman Cup: Dalton 29 Askam 20; Hindpool 10 Barrow Island 25; Walney Central 32 Roose Pioneers 30.
Friday’s fixtures – Cumbria Shield Semi-Finals: Walney Central v Broughton; Kells v Askam.
Furness Tile and Flooring League: Dalton v Roose Pioneers; Ulverston v Barrow Island.
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