TWO first-half tries from Sam Attard helped Barrow Island to strengthen their grip on the runners-up spot in the Cumbria League with a 21-8 win over Ulverston.

A win at bottom club Hensingham on Saturday will clinch a home semi-final tie in the play-offs – probably against local rivals Walney Central.

Island were made to work hard for their victory by an Ulverston side who had their moments but came up against one of the meanest defences in the League.

Sam Jones also got on the try-scorers list and a Jake Carter conversion gave the home side a commanding 14-0 lead before Jamie Sandham crossed for the visitors. Connor Saunders added the conversion and a penalty on the stroke of half time to cut Island’s lead to six points.

With the advantage of the slope, Ulverston pushed hard to get back into the game but too many of their attacks fizzled out in front of the home posts.

The visitors were stunned in the 52nd minute when a high crossfield kick from Ian Irvine was brilliantly taken by full-back Jake Carter to grab Island’s fourth and match-clinching try. Irvine added a late drop goal to complete the scoring.

In the National Conference League Askam stepped up their promotion push in Division Two with an emphatic nine-try romp against Dewsbury Celtic.

With closest challenge for the runners-up spot, Thornhill Trojans and Saddleworth Rangers battling out a 28-28 draw, Askam are now assured of home ties in the play-offs.

Ben Lewney and man of the match Barry Pugh chipped in with two tries each. The Bolton brothers Russ and Gary, Sam Dowsett, who also kicked seven goals, Dan Sayle and Rob Cockayne were the other try-scorers. Sayle also kicked two goals in an impressive 54-6 win.

Elsewhere it was a tale of mixed fortunes for our local sides.

Walney Central were far too strong for Glasson Rangers and racked up 40 points without reply but Roose Pioneers found Ellenborough too strong and were beaten 56-24.

Walney had their game in the bag by half-time when they led 34-0 at Central Drive with tries from Stuart Tippett (2), Carl McBain, Brad Nichols, Adam Nicholson and Jake Devereux with Matt Elliott adding five goals. The only points of the second half came from an Elliott combination of Mike’s try and Matt’s conversion.

It was a totally different story at Redwaters where Roose held a narrow two-point lead at the break but eventually fell away to concede 40 second half points. Pioneers’ three tries came from man of the match Corne Els, Joel Williams and Dan White.

Travelling teams Millom and Hindpool Tigers were brought crashing back to earth with a bang a week after recording big wins.

Millom, big winners over Elland a week ago, had their relegation to Division Two of the National Conference League confirmed when they went down 44-10 at Shaw Cross.

It has been a tough season for the Woollybacks who had to shelve their second team early and coach Tom Sibley has struggled to field a full complement of players at several trips into Yorkshire.

Hindpool have suffered from an alarming lack of fixtures in the North West Men’s League and, after returning from a lengthy lay-off with a win over Chorley last week, they were heavily beaten at Warrington, losing 52-24 at Latchford Albion.