BARROW Island are through to the final of the Cumbria Cup after surviving a nail-biting finish to a fast, open semi-final against Glasson Rangers at Rating Lane.

A good crowd were treated to a game that was in doubt right until the final whistle, but hopes of an local derby in the final were shattered when a depleted Walney Central side were crushed in the other semi-final at Distington.

A Sam Jones try, converted by Drake Carter, gave the hosts a good start but, playing down the slope, Rangers quickly hit back to level with a Dan Fryer try and a Shaun Mumberson goal.

The exchange of points continued in an evenly-balanced first half.

Dan Wright restored Island’s lead, with Carter again adding the extra points but Rangers hit back in double-quick time with tries from centre Mumberson and Keiron Hewitt – Mumberson adding his second goal – to go into a 16-12 lead.

Just before the break, Island substitute Mark Bewley proved too hot to handle as he crashed over by the posts, giving Carter the simplest of chances to add the goal and restore the home side’s lead at 18-16.

Home supporters might have got idea that Barrow Island, now with the advantage of the slope, had struck the killer blow when Lewis Singleton crossed just four minutes into the second half, but any notion that this game was all over disappeared in just eight minutes, scrum-half Keiron Winter sliding through for another Glasson try.

Mumberson’s goal cut the gap to two points.

After a string of penalties, both sides spurned chances to go for the two points, but 10 minutes from the end Jack Sutherland burst over, Carter added the goal and Island were eight points clear.

But it still was not over.

In the dying minutes, Gary Tierney went in for Rangers. The goal attempt hit the post but straight from the restart, Glasson knocked on and Barrow Island were in the final as 30-26 victors.

Up the coast, under-strength Walney were no match for Cumbria League leaders Distington and missed their chance for another final appearance.

Trailing 22-6 at the break Cents could make no impression on the home side and eventually lost 50-16. Two tries from Jamie Morrow, one from Jack Rushton and a couple of Brad Nicholls goals were all they had to show from their trip.

Millom are finding that life since promotion does not get any easier.

They could not hold National Conference Division One leaders Thatto Heath Crusaders.

Despite home advantage the Maroons could muster only a single try from Joe Moyes and a Jonathon Hodgson conversion as the visitors from St Helens cruised to a 54-6 victory.

Hindpool Tigers found themselves without a game in Division One of the North West League when Parkside Golborne failed to raise a team to travel to Brisbane Park.