BLACKBROOK’S Challenge Cup campaign was ended in the first round by Cumbrian side Egremont in a low-scoring tie on Saturday.

The Cumbrians went ahead in the eighth minute, when centre Leon Crellin went over from dummy half.

As the half progressed Brook managed to exert some pressure, Scott Davidson and Danny Fairhurst making half-breaks but the hosts were unable to keep possession on either occasion.

The Blackbrook defence kept Egremont at bay, but from a Keiran Glenn 40/20 kick, srum-half Lewis Beckwith scored to the left of the posts, Glenn’s conversion making it 10-0 in the last points of the first half.

Brook pressured the Egremont line after the restart, and from a scrum move Stephen Parkinson went over in the corner for the hosts’ first points, but was unable to convert his own try.

As the conditions deteriorated, Brook hunted for an equalising try in the hard-fought defensive tie.

Their best chance came from a last-tackle kick which Egremont failed to deal with, but neither Greg Hale nor Aaron Hewitt were able to reach the ball.

Handling errors became increasingly costly for Blackbrook as time ran out and the Cumbrians held out for the win.

Brook’s attention turns to the Conference League on Saturday March 1 when they host Crosfields at 2.30pm.