Egremont 17 Furness 30

FURNESS move top of the Cumbria League thanks to a battling win at Egremont.

The Blues made it four win in succession to topple Upper Eden – victims of an 82-17 mauling at Whitehaven – from the summit on points difference.

Furness made the trip with a much-changed team – veteran Paul Dean and captain Corne Els stepping up to the second row – but still went ahead early on.

A typically mazy run from centre Adam Nicholson resulted in a penalty, easily slotted over from 30 metres by scrum half Sam Dutton.

With the visitors dominating the early exchanges, another Dutton penalty gave them a six-point advantage.

That was increased to nine points and following a high tackle on Dutton and then 12 as several Egremont players were caught offside on the half-hour.

The majority of play was in the Egremont half, with Furness looking to increase their lead as half-time approached.

It was somewhat against the run of play, therefore, that the Egremont stand-off went over for a try out wide, making it 12-5 at the break.

The weather gods smiled on Furness at the start of the second half, as Storm Brian was much abated.

The referee, however, was not feeling quite so well disposed, and after five minutes Will Mallinson was yellow-carded.

Furness weathered the ensuing Egremont storm without conceding due to a combination of good defence and poor execution by their hosts.

Another penalty, converted into the wind by Dutton, gave Furness a 10- point lead, increased to 13 following yet another Egremont indiscretion.

The West Cumbrians were not lying down, however, and their angry number 11 went over in the corner following a couple of missed tackles, making it 18-10 going into the final quarter.

The Blues brought on 42-year-old Craig McKinnon from the bench, and after a reshuffle were soon back on the front foot.

Following good work by prop Leon Sweet, flanker Rhys Studt picked up a loose ball, cleverly handed off the Egremont 11 and went over between the sticks for their first try of the day. Dutton's conversion made it 25-10 with 12 minutes to play.

Egremont were not done and responded with a try of their own, narrowing the lead to eight points.

The referee now yellow-carded flanker Joe Mallinson, apparently for deliberately running him, but Furness again resisted the ensuing Egremont pressure and found themselves in the bottom corner, 10 metres from the home line.

Good driving play by the pack saw Els go over for a well-deserved try, though man-of-the-match Dutton narrowly missed the conversion.