Egremont helped make history as they started the new Conference Premier season with an excellent away win.

Their clash at Rochdale Mayfield was the first to be televised live on FreeSports and they responded with an outstanding performance.

The 22-6 victory was probably inspired by a reaction to social media comments ahead of the game, suggesting Egremont were the worst team in Cumbria.

Well, they did finish third of the three west Cumbrian sides in the Premier Division last season – but have every intention of reversing that in 2018.

The people who chose the televised game could hardly have gone for better entertainment.

Yet it had all started ominously for the Cumbrians as they went 6-0 down on four minutes. Paul Brierley went in for a try which was converted by Zak Baker.

There might have been some smirks among the Rochdale fans who had initiated the social media comments during the week about Egremont’s status in Cumbrian rugby league’s pecking order.

But those quickly disappeared as Egremont, inspired by man of the match prop Stephen Fox, stared to dominate.

It was Fox who got Egremont on the score sheet when he powered over and Matt Bewsher added the extras.

Midway through the half, Egremont went in front when winger Matt Hutchens scored a try which Bewsher converted.

As time ran out in the first-half it got better for the visitors when Jack Stainton went in for their third try which was unconverted.

It stayed that way until four minutes from the end of the game when full-back Lewis Beckwith went in for the fourth try, converted by Bewsher.

Mayfield tried hard to get back into the game, led by outstanding second-row Callum Marritt, but couldn’t break down a resolute Egremont defence.

Kells made the long trek to Humberside to take on Myton Warriors and were pleased to come back with a point from a 20-20 draw.

That represented a great effort by the west Cumbrians as they had trailed 18-0 after half an hour.

It was looking ominous but Kells fought back superbly and around the hour mark had drawn level.

Myton went backin front with a 66th-minute penalty but, six minutes from time, Ross Gainford squared things again with a successful penalty.

Even then there was late drama when a drop-goal attempt by Myton’s Kris Walker came back off the post in the dying seconds.

Myton were indebted to scrum-half Walker for scoring two tries and he was followed over by full-back Dan Precious. Hooker Ashley James converted all three.

It might have got worse for Kells as they had Tyrone Dalton sent to the sin bin but just before he returned loose-forward Tony Burns went in for a try which Gainford converted.

Early in the second-half the fight-back was firmly on when substitute Ryan Watson went over for the second try, again converted by Gainford.

Close to the hour mark hooker Troy Armstrong scored an Gainford’s conversion put the sides level.

A penalty apiece in the last quarter meant the spoils and points were shared.

Wath Brow Hornets could not build on a good first half at Normanton Knights and went down 18-10.