Last updated 19:45, Thursday, 05 June 2008

KELLS, already celebrating victory over Seaton Rangers in the SJR Builders Cumberland Cup Final, finished the campaign on a high with a stunning 28-6 win over Ellenborough Rangers in the John Smith’s Cumberland League Top Four final at the Copeland Sports Academy.

The Whitehaven outfit, adopting the scintillating brand of open football that has made the club famous throughout the world of rugby league, simply outpaced a tired Elbra outfit that has perhaps paid the price for a crippling programme in the closing weeks of the season.

Rangers, who were heavily beaten by Bank Quay Bulls in the Bartlett's Insurance Champion of Champions Final at Fylde last week, were close to running on empty in their 37th and final match of the campaign, and could only muster 16 fit players.

Ellenborough lacked injured packman Paul McGee, Jason Moore was unavailable, together with the Sawyers brothers, and Barrie Murdock and Kyle Lofthouse were both on holiday.

Elbra's woes were compounded by a shoulder injury to prop Paul West, who had to withdraw midway through the first half, and coach Gary Murdock was grateful to veteran Paul Gorge for stepping in at the 11th hour.

Only denied the Division One leadership trophy by Ellenborough in the last match of the programme, and thwarted by Rangers in the Halbro Cumbria Cup Final at Christmas despite scoring six tries to five, Kells were never likely to suffer a third successive defeat on the major stage by their old rivals.

Centre Steve McGrady, a strong contender with eventual recipient second row Barry Boyd for the Derek Branthwaite Memorial Man of the Match Trophy, set the agenda with a powerful break in the sixth minute, his neat pass sending winger Jonathan Wignall over.

Elbra, resilient as ever, bounced back when winger Shane Ackerley darted in, stand off Steven Stoddart improving from the touchline.

But Kells forged a lead they were never going to lose when centre Scott Lofthouse, wasteful in the 17th minute by being tackled on his back over the try line with support outside, made amends seven minutes before the break, loose forward Ryan Robb adding the difficult conversion.

Boyd, with a trademark rampaging run, set up a touchdown for prop Shaun Flanagan as the second period got underway to effectively ‘kill’ the contest.

And, with Elbra tiring, Kells recorded clinching tries in the final quarter for substitute Gregg Lofthouse and Boyd. Robb converted each effort for a four-goal haul.