SUPER-SUB James Finch crossed for a crucial hat-trick of tries as Walney saw off a determined challenge from Seaton with a 32-24 victory at Central Drive.

With several players unavailable, Finch pulled on a Cents shirt for the first time this season and came off the bench twice to cross for vital touchdowns.

Cents got off to a good start, going 10-0 ahead only to find themselves trailing 12-10 going into the last eight minutes of the first period.

Enter Finch and the former Barrow player showed neat foot work to touch down on 32 and 38 minutes to enable Cents to go in at the break 22-12 ahead.

And when the game was evenly poised in Cents’ favour at 26-24 Finch came back off the bench to cross for a match-sealing converted try.

Cents took the game to a Seaton side who had just completed the double over Roose Pioneers, and on their first raid an opportunity to score went begging when Brad Nicholls’ intended pass to Stu Tippett flew into touch.

Seaton turned defence into attack, going close through full-back Jordan Ostle but he lost the ball near the line.

Cents opened the scoring on ten minutes when slick hands from Jamie Morrow and Nicholls paved the way for Mike Elliott to prise open a gap to touch down.

Jamie Ralph then set up a raid with a forceful run only for the attack to break down when a Seaton player got a hand to a Morrow pass.

Fifteen minutes into the game Cents were crossing through Mike Backhouse who took Morrow’s pass to force his way over despite the attention of four defenders. Nicholls added the goal with Seaton down to 12 men as Steve Wallace was sent to the bin for disputing the try.

Undeterred, Seaton came back to reduce the deficit with a good try from loose forward Tom Curwen who brushed off would-be tacklers to score, and Dom Smallwood converted.

The same player almost got in for a second score but he was stopped short of the line. Walney worked their way upfield through Finch and Matt Elliott but the attack fizzled out.

Seaton went ahead on 30 minutes after prop Wallace was sin-binned for talking out of turn. A high ball from the visitors bounced favourably and racing in was winger Jason Burrows to score out wide. Smallwood added the touchline goal for 10-12.

Two minutes later and the lead was back in the hands of the home side when Morrow brought Finch into the attack and he came inside defenders to score, Nicholls adding the goal.

This spurred on Cents and after Mike Elliott had made good yards the ball was moved left to right and Finch again wrong-footed the cover to score. Nicholls tagged on the extra two to give Walney a 22-12 lead at the break.

The second half was barely under way when Cents looked destined to score again. Tippett broke through two tackles over halfway to send Nicholls haring for the line, only for a forward pass to be ruled.

Instead it was Seaton who did cross on 52 minutes when hooker Jack Earl took a quick tap and while the home defence was half asleep he nipped in to touch down, Smallwood adding the goal. It only took two minutes for the Cents to reply and ease matters though when swift handling from Matt Elliott and Morrow sent Mike Elliott racing in at the corner.

Seaton were down to 12 men for the third time when Liam Wood was sent to the bin for back-chatting, but once more the 12 men were putting points on the board with a try from Matt Tunstall converted by Smallwood, and the gap was just two points.

Enter Finch again and the substitute – just back on the field – was touching down for his hat-trick. Nicholls tagged on the goal for a winning cushion of eight points.

Barrow Island were 22-14 winners over Glasson Rangers at Rating Lane.

Tries came from Matt Parkinson, Luke Cresswell and Matt Sayle who added three goals. Ulverston’s unbeaten record went as they lost 18-12 at Hensingham after the home side had led 12-6 at half-time.

Tries for the Dragley Beck side came from Brad Williamson and Liam Saunders with two goals from Connor Saunders.

Distington move clear at the top of the table keeping their 100 per cent record intact, defeating the previously unbeaten Maryport 28-20 away from home.

In the National Conference Askam also lost their unbeaten record in going down 18-16 at Hunslet Old Boys, a late converted try sealing victory for the South Leeds side.

Tries for the Villagers came from Jonathan Walsh, Tom Butler and Russ Bolton.

Millom remain rooted at the foot of Division One after losing 42-6 at Oulton Rangers. Hindpool were no match for visitors Orrell St James at Brisbane Park failing to score as Orrell ran in 46 points in the North West Men’s League.

Walney A are through to the final of the Frank Reid Cup after defeating Dalton 14-8, while in the Barrow League Barrow Island were 40-4 winners over Hindpool with Ulverston awarded the points as Millom failed to raise enough players.