MILLOM 18

ULVERSTON 10

A SPECTACULAR try six minutes from time sealed a record 11th victory for the Millom in the Barton Townley final at Craven Park.

Ulverston came within a whisker of taking the lead one minute earlier, but were denied a try which if converted would have seen them ahead at 16-12.

Impressive full-back Jack Aiken darted over from a set move, but a double movement was ruled.

From the restart, the Woolybacks swept downfield covering 90 yards for Jude Lupton to race over, the conversion from Lee Postlethwaite making it 18-10.

It was an end to end for the full 80 minutes with North West Men’s League’s Second Division outfit Ulverston going head to head with the Conference side

Two consecutive penalties for Millom saw them go ahead on five minutes.

Connor Terrill was held short allowing Jack Newbiggin to sneak over from the play the ball, Postlethwaite adding the goal 6-0.

A further raid saw Postlethwaite put in a neat kick over the Ulverston line, but the alert Aiken gathered cleanly.

At the other end, Jai Smoothy and Max Nesbitt took play deep before Aiken put in a neat kick only for Postlethwaite to boot the ball dead.

A further penalty for the Woolybacks saw them double their tally when swift handling along the line enabled Rio McQuiston to dot the ball down for Postlethwaite to convert 12-0.

From the restart Ulverston gained possession with Brad Williamson forcing his way to the line, but great defensive work kept him at bay.

Millom’s Nial Harris made a dart for the corner, but fine covering from Ulverston defence bundled him into touch.

With half-time approaching four Millom defenders halted Aiken from crossing the line.

Ulverston took the game to the Woolybacks early in the second half, but once more good defending by four players pushed Josh Catlett into touch.

From a tap penalty Millom made good ground only for Daniel Hartley to fall to a fine tackle from Aiken.

On 50 minutes, Ulverston finally put points on the board, Matt Dean racing over in the corner, Smoothy missing the conversion attempt 12-4.

A counter-attack almost saw try number three for the Woolybacks as pressure mounted which resulted in Lupton being held up over the line.

Ulverston narrowed the gap with a neat try from Catlett converted by Smoothy 12-10.

A crunching tackle from Catlett prevented Harris from going in at the corner after good approach work from Newbiggin and Hadley Thompson.

Then the drama as the clock ticked down, Aikens double movement as he crossed the Millom line resulted in the Woolybacks back in possession almost on their own line.

They moved the ball sharply to winger Jackson Evans who raced downfield before cross kicking for Kyle Evans to gather, and on his shoulder was Lupton to dot the ball down for Postlethwaite to convert 18-10.

Millom: L Postlethwaite. N Harris, H Thompson, K Williams, J Evans, J Newbiggin, K  Evans, C Terrill, J Lupton, D  Hartley, A Wilson, R McQuiston, J Hodgson. Subs used: T Ruddy, W Singleton, D O’Brien, A Dawson

Ulverston: J Aiken, K Potter, E Foster, J Catlett, M Dean, M Storey, M Nesbitt, D Horne, J Smoothy, D Beck, S Houston, J Rankin, M Storey. Subs used: J Bayliss, R Smedley, B Williamson, A Brown.

Man of the match Rio McQuiston (Millom)