A BATTLING display in adverse circumstances from Cumbria under-19s was not enough as they slipped to a 32-22 defeat to Lancashire in the Three Counties Series at Millom on Saturday.

The hosts lost winger John Penrice after 15 minutes, who was injured attempting to prevent an opponent from scoring and needed lengthy treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital.

Lancashire took control from that point on and although Cumbria rallied from 22 points down with 15 minutes left, it was too much to overcome

Cumbria went into the match buoyed by the previous week’s victory over Yorkshire, but Lancashire’s backline showed their pace and power to go ahead through Brad Holroyd’s try, converted by Adam Carr.

The home side were back on level terms in the 12th minute when good pressure from a kick forced Lancashire into a forward pass, which Owen Hoyles scooped up to send Sam Curwen over for a converted try.

Lancashire retook the lead through a converted try from Carr, but play was held up for the best part of 20 minutes while Penrice was treated.

When it did resume, quick tries from Louie Brogan and Ethan Jones, one of which Holroyd converted, saw the visitors surge ahead despite having stand-off Carr in the sin-bin.

Stand-off Hoyles got one back for Cumbria four minutes before the break, capitalising on a good spell of pressure.

But two converted tries in the space of four minutes after the hour from Carr and Andrew Badrock put Lancashire in the driving seat.

Cumbria made them work for the win though as Brad Long and Ellison Holgate both got tries late on, while the away side finished with 12 men after Josh Yates was sin-binned while Lancashire were on a team warning.

Cumbria: Sam Curwen; Jack Penrice, Louis Fearon, Aaron Burns, Cameron Taylor; Owen Hoyles, Keir Shepherd; Charlie Emslie, Ellison Holgate, Connor Terrill, Zac Steel, John Irving, Rhys Burr. Interchange: Shane Sanderson, Kieron Eldon, Casey Chambers, Brad Long.

Lancashire: Lewis Gartland; Brad Holroyd, Oliver Crompton, Brandon Wood, Ethan Jones; Gary McMahon, Calum Coleman; Harry Darby, Josh Yates, Ben Holmes, Keiron Taylor, Andrew Badrock, Louie Brogan. Interchange: Mike Wynn, Matty McGowan, Keiron Moore, Adam Carr.